An absorbing and dramatic start to the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours played out in front of a packed crowd this afternoon with incidents, retirements and rain showers providing an exciting start to the twice around the clock epic.

Toyota briefly held a 1-2 position at the front of the field in their Michelin-shod TS040 Hybrid’s but a localised rain shower in the second hour saw a dramatic turn of events which saw the #3 Audi R18 e-tron Quattro driven by Marco Bonanomi and the #8 Toyota of Nicolas Lapierre involved in a collision. The resulting damage ensured that the Audi was retired instantly while the Toyota endured a lengthy stop for repairs that look set to put it out of contention.

Another shower midway through the second hour ensured another lengthy safety car period after sporadic accidents on the Mulsanne straight.

After the clear-up and at the four hour mark it was the #20 Porsche 919 Hybrid with Brendon Hartley at the wheel. The Kiwi led the #7 Toyota which was in the hands of Stephane Sarrazin. Audi sat 3^rd and 4^th with their two remaining R18’s.

In the highly competitive LMGTE PRO category it was the #74 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R leading the way after an entertaining first hour battle with the #51 AF Corse Ferrari.

Earlier the #73 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R driven by the ‘Great Dane’, Jan Magnussen, hustled through in to the lead with a perfectly executed move at Indianapolis corner. At four hours this Corvette was in 6^th position after slipping back slightly.

In the LMGTE Am class the #77 Dempsey Racing Porsche ruled the roost in the first few hours with Patrick Long doing a stellar job to head the class convincingly. The all-American team has laid early solid foundations and enjoyed a healthy lead over their nearest challengers. Patrick Dempsey took over the wheel in the fourth hour and the car held a comfortable 2^nd in class.

Ricky Taylor was in the cockpit of the Larbre Competition Morgan-Judd in LMP2 and currently runs 11^th in class.

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