Chrysler Team ORECA is maintaining its steady pace at Le Mans with all three Chrysler LMPs in the top ten and running smoothly. Yannick Dalmas, Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin are in sixth position overall, six laps off the lead Audi after a spin by Dalmas.

The second car, that of Olivier Beretta, Karl Wendlinger and Pedro Lamy, was third before the Chrysler LMP required a water pump change shortly before midnight, losing 37 minutes. The third Chrysler LMP of Ni Amorim, Seiji Ara and Masahiko Kondo is eighth.

"We are still running at a careful pace," said Hugues de Chaunac, Director of ORECA. "We have shown with Yannick that even the most careful and patient driver can spin. It is very difficult on this track, and we have told our drivers to continue to be very careful. The wet weather makes it better for our cars, but the risk for the driver is so much higher in the rain."

Montagny commented: "To do 24 hours you cannot go as fast as you want to and in these conditions you cannot run at full throttle on the straight, it is too dangerous. The chassis is very, very good, but there is not a lot of pleasure in driving a relatively heavy car in these conditions. I hope that it dries out soon."

The Larbre Chrysler Viper of Christophe Bouchut, Jean-Philippe Belloc and Tiego Monteiro currently lies fourth in class after its earlier accident. The Paul Belmondo Racing Chrysler Viper of Vincent Vosse, Vanina Ickx and Carl Rosenblad is fifth in class. The second Belmondo car, of Jean-Claude Lagniez, Gregoire de Galzain and Anthony Kumpen has been retired.