Overview
- After six hours of racing, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team’s No. 37 led with YART’s No. 1 close behind and the Suzuki No. 12 and Honda No. 4 within roughly the same gap.
- Early laps saw Honda briefly in front before Michael van der Mark moved BMW ahead, then Marvin Fritz put Yamaha back on top by passing Markus Reiterberger, with the lead cycling on pit timing.
- BMW is using less fuel per stint than Yamaha, which lets its riders stay out longer and may cut one or two pit stops across 24 hours.
- Team boss Werner Daemen said the strategy could even build a full-lap buffer, while YART’s Karel Hanika reported dry, stable conditions and a steady pace from his trio.
- The race began with a 60-team grid at Le Mans after a red-flag-hit qualifying where YART set the fastest time, setting up a tightly matched fight among the top factory squads.