KSM Mega-Fest in first session at Le Mans

Greetings from Le Mans on Wednesday evening where the cars are on track for first practice. It has been raining cats and dogs this afternoon and the track is damp as practice enters the third hour after eight o'clock. I am high above the track in the press office opposite the tribunes just past the start/finish line. We've set up camp for the duration at position number 2.203 and will be bringing you news of the Lola- Mazda, car #39, during the race meeting as well as reports upon the overall situation. The Audis are already setting the pace with car numbers 1&2 heading the timesheets with times in the 3:30.7 bracket.
Bad news from the early practice is that Jean de Pourtales has had an accident in car #39 wiping off the left rear corner of the car which is currently in the pits. The damage is being repaired with the possibility of Matthew Marsh taking to the track later on in the session. According to Matthew there is a "KSM mega-fest" underway to repair the car in time. The session concludes this evening at 12:00 midnight.
Earlier Hideki Noda completed ten laps and came in to hand over to Jean de Pourtales, who locked the rear brakes at La Chappelle beyond the Dunlop Curve starting his second lap and the car went off into the gravel trap. RLT.