Audis collide at Le Mans

FIVE HOURS: Audi kept the lead as night slowly fell on the Le Mans 24 Hours but the expected domination of the German constructor was fragile after two of its cars collided in the first major incident on Saturday. Britons Johnny Herbert, Jamie Davies and Guy Smith currently hold a one-lap lead over Team Goh.

The car entered by Audi UK were followed by a second Audi R8, the Japanese team of Seiji Ara, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen, who also had a fright at the beginning of the race when the Italian driver skidded off the track after eight laps.

But a far more serious incident involved two Audis 21 laps later.

The Audi UK car driven by Allan McNish, then in second place, and the Audi entered by Champion Racing and driven by Finn J.J. Letho hit each other on the 29th lap. Both cars finished in security tyres on the side of the track and the race had to be halted for 15 minutes.

Both cars were able to be driven back to their boxes but their chances of victory now look remote. "The explosion of an engine left oil traces on the tarmac and that's why we collided," Letho said.

McNish was taken to the circuit medical centre as a precaution after being stunned during the incident.

French team chief Henri Pescarolo, the driver with most Le Mans participations, had predicted before the start the Audis would fight each other for the win and his team would need to take advantage of any incidents.

His prediction seemed to be confirmed as the Pescarolo Judd of Frenchmen Soheil Ayari, Eric Comas and Benoit Treluyer were settled in fourth place behind the two leading Audis and the Dome Mugen Kondon team of Hiroki Kato, Ryo Michigami and Ryo Fukuda.