Le Mans 24 Hours Battle underway between Yamaha GMT 94 and SERT 1 After three hours of racing at the Bugatti circuit today, Yamaha GMT 94 leads the way, closely followed by the GSX-R1 of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team. The battle between these two favourites is being extremely tightly fought-out. Not far behind is the Suzuki 2 of SERT, followed by the ZX-10R of Team Kawasaki France and the Yamaha Austria Racing Team. The start of this first race of the QMMF Endurance FIM World Championship was closely contested. After a start that saw Vincent Philippe of Suzuki 1 on pole-position, the lead changed with increasing frequency with Suzuki 2, Yamaha Austria, Yamaha GMT 94 and Kawasaki Bolliger Switzerland all in contention. Falls and other incidents were also numerous. Kawasaki Bolliger lost its sixth place just after 17:00 with the fall of Eric Mizera, leaving them to rejoin the race from the back. Winners in 2006, Honda National Motos also suffered the same fate. After a fall by Dani Ribalta, a petrol problem meant a long delay for Frédéric Protat and National Motos had to rejoin in last place. There were mechanical problems also for the Yamaha Phase One team who dropped down the field as a result of an oil leak. Yamaha Power 113, who started in sixth place on the grid, endured problems from the outset, and finally got underway several laps behind. In Superstock, the lead is held by the Suzuki Junior Team, seventh in the overall classification table. The leader in the Superproduction class is the Suzuki Genous Team, 10th in the overall table. As of 18:00, there had already been two retirements. After two taps, the German Honda of RMT 21 Racing has thrown in the towel. Matti Seidel was unable to avoid the Suzuki Infini Team and crashed out. Withdrawl also for the Suzuki EWC Team Eurosport Benelux after serious braking problems early on.