Communiqué n°11 - Sunday 13/6/99 - 10h00

Still in front at 10H00 were the 2 BMWs with no.17 (Kristensen-Lehto-Müller) leading no.15 in the hands of Winkelhock-Dalmas-Martini by 4 laps. A new record for the present circuit (used since 1997and the 11th since 1923) looks on the cards if the present speed is maintained. However, the second-placed car was under threat from the Toyota especially when it spun at 8h30 and had to pit for a check. The Japanese car was but 1mn 30 secs behind its German rival.

With 6 hours to go before the chequered flag the 3 leaders were followed by the Audi R8R of Pirro-Biela­Theys which had to have its exhausts changed, while in 5th was the privately entered LM 98 BMW of Bscher-Auberlen-Soper followed by the Brabham-Leitzinger-Bernard Panoz no.12 and the only remaining Nissan the C52 of Cottaz-Goossens-Ekblom.

Vipers dominate

The Oreca Team Vipers still dominated the GTS Category filling the first 3 places with no.51 (Beretta­Wendlinger-Dupuy) ahead of no.52 (Bell-Duez-Archer) and no.53 (Belloc-Ayari-Donohue). The first of the 911 GT 2 Porsches was almost 20 laps behind in the hands of Haupt-Robinson-Price. As Pierre Dieudonné, the Chrysler spokesman said: "It's a dream race for us. But for the future it would be a good thing if Porsche reacted and of course, Chevrolet will be here next year."
In the LM GT Class the Manthey Racing entry no.80 had no real rivals and was in a comfortable lead.
At 9hl5 the retirement of the no.10 Audi was officialised the car suffering from broken transmission like its sister no.9. Also out was the Kremer Lola-Ford of Saldana-Orbell-de Radiguès (engine).