Toyota holds early lead at Le Mans

LE MANS, France (AP) On course for a fifth straight victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi led in the 18th hour on Sunday but was under pressure from Porsche.

Marc Gene's Audi No. 1 led Mark Webber's Porsche No. 20 by a lap and Marcel Fassler's Audi No. 2 by two laps. Toyota is virtually out of contention as Nicolas Lapierre's Toyota No. 8 was fourth but eight laps off the pace.

Pole-sitter Kazuki Nakajima's Toyota No. 7 surrendered the lead to Benoit Treluyer's Audi No. 2 in the 15th hour and was forced to retire because of an electrical problem with the wiring loom.

Gene's Audi No. 1 hit the front in the 17th hour when the Audi No. 2 lost 23 minutes in the garage to change a turbocharger.