The favoured Danish BMW had retired before half-time after ongoing issues with its exhaust and wheel bearings kept it from being competitive. Raymond Touroul's non-turbo Porsche had led the GTO class since the first hour, after early issues stymied his rivals and they never caught up.
The favored Danish BMW was withdrawn before halftime due to persistent mechanical problems with its exhaust and wheel bearings, which hindered its performance. In contrast, Raymond Touroul's non-turbo Porsche had established a strong lead in the GTO class from the start, as his rivals struggled to recover from their early difficulties.