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Loïc Duval, André Lotterer and Marco Bonanomi overtook in quick succession the Porsche #19 with Nico Hülkenberg at the wheel that had started third on the grid. After one hour the three R18 lie third, fourth and fifth immediately behind the two leading Porsches as the safety car was deployed and the race neutralized because of a burning GTE car. The three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars had completed their first refueling stops beforehand on lap nine (R18 #9), ten (R18 #8) and eleven (R18 #7) – each offset by one lap. As a result, Audi Sport Team Joest split the three cars through the pit stops. Positions after 1 hour: 1 Porsche #17 2 Porsche #18 3 Audi #8 4 Audi #7 5 Audi #9 6 Porsche #19

The gap between Rast and the leading Porsche #19 of Nico Hülkenberg remained constant at a little over two minutes. A refueling stop during a safety car phase meant the deficit grew to one lap. Audi R18 e-tron quattro #7 was two laps down in fourth place at 8 o’clock. Marcel Fässler resumed the race in fifth place at 7:02 after a 6 minute 56 second long repair to the rear end, before making up a position when Oliver Jarvis stopped to refuel in the R18 #8. Positions after 17 hours: 1 Porsche #19 2 Audi #9 3 Porsche #17 4 Audi #7 5 Audi #8 6 Porsche #18