FERRARIS ONCE AGAIN SEEM CERTAIN TO TRIUMPH IN THE GRUELLING 24-HOURS LE MANS RACE. SOON AFTER MIDNIGHT NINE OF THE BRIGHT RED-PAINTED CARS LED THE FIELD. IN THE LEAD WAS JOHN SURTEES - A LAP AHEAD AT THE FIFTH HOUR.

THIS YEAR'S RACE PROMISED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING FOR YEARS, WITH SPECULATION WHETHER FERRARI'S RECENT DOMINATION WILL AT LAST BE BROKEN. THE CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAN FORD TEAM FADED WITH THE INTENSE PACE - ALMOST 130 MPH LAPS. WITH THE RACE ONLY QUARTER RUN THERE WERE 16 RETIREMENTS - ALMOST A THIRD OF THE TOTAL ENTRY - BUT NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVING INJURY HAD BEEN REPORTED.

PHIL HILL'S FORD WENT OUT OF THE RACE AFTER COMPLETING 90 LAPS BUT HE BROKE THE OFFICIAL LAP RECORD THREE TIMES. THE BRITISH ROVER-BRM COMPETING OFFICIALLY AT LE MANS WENT IN TO THE PITS WITH OVER HEATING TROUBLE. IT WENT BACK IN THE RACE, BUT RUNNING AT REDUCED SPEEDS.

THE ORDER AFTER THE SIXTH HOUR WAS JOHN SURTEES, MIKE PARKES OF BRITAIN, JO BONNIER OF SWEDEN, BANDINI OF ITALY, PEDRO RODRIGUEZ OF MEXICO, AND THE CAR OF BIANCHI AND SALMON.

THE NIGHT WAS WARM AND CLEAR BUT THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF MIST PATCHES, PARTICULARLY AROUND DAWN TOMORROW. CAMPING FOR THE SECOND NIGHT AROUND THE LE MANS CIRCUIT WILL BE THOUSANDS OF MOTORING FANS. ON FRIDAY NIGHT THEY ARRIVED EARLY FOR THE BETTER VANTAGE POINTS. A NECESSARY PRECAUTION SINCE 250,000 PEOPLE WERE EXPECTED TO WATCH THE CLASSIC.