Running in their works colours for the fifth time , "Das Werk" started the race with the only other non Group C body. The car was as fast and smooth as its predecessors, but the Toyota GT-one never attained the air of dominance the team had grown accostumed too.
Was it the high level of competition or a slight case of slot fatigue?
Starting from pole the Toyota still took the lead in the first hours of the race but constantly had the X-rookies Porsche on their (long) tail.
In previous years "das Werk" used their home advantage to consolidate their lead "under cover of the night". This time however darkness fell upon the team by means of a mysterious light failure wich dropped them down to 4th.
With only 2 hrs remaining, winning back the 20 laps lost in the pits was beyond their reach!