LE MANS, France -- Veteran German driver Timo Bernhard led Porsche to a dramatic third straight win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, preventing a huge upset victory for the lesser-category Oreca team Sunday.
After a series of mishaps to prerace favorites Porsche and Toyota, the LMP2 category Oreca suddenly found itself in the lead with 19-year-old Frenchman Thomas Laurent behind the wheel three hours from the end of the grueling endurance race.
But the 36-year-old Bernhard, racing in the faster and more powerful LMP1 category Porsche 919 Hybrid, overtook the Oreca with about one hour remaining.