BMW holds a lead of over a lap with four hours of this weekend's Spa 24 Hours still to go, while power steering woes have slowed the United Autosports challenge in GT3.
The No. 79 car of Dirks Werner, Muller and Adorf, which qualified second, had been in a fight with the quickest GT2 Porsches of BMS and IMSA. But the dry conditions this morning have allowed the M3 to show its pace and it had pulled out a lead of over three minutes from the No. 23 BMS 911 until its latest stop, just before the 20-hour mark.
IMSA is still chasing BMS for the GT2 lead, and Patrick Pilet is currently a lap behind Wolf Henzler in the BMS machine. The No. 78 BMW remains fourth, well behind the leading trio, but almost 10 laps clear of a fine fight for the GT3 lead.
With the No. 73 WRT Audi (suspected engine problems) and No. 99 Marc VDS Ford GT (starter motor) hitting trouble, the battle for fifth overall and GT3 was between the No. 53 Muhlner Porsche and the United Autosports Audi of Mark Blundell/Zak Brown/Richard Dean/Eddie Cheever.
Cheever had reduced the gap from 25sec to 7sec, but then the No. 68 Audi R8 LMS suffered a power steering failure shortly after noon, and the long repair stop has dropped it well behind..