Rain began to intensify over the Porsche curves, but with the rest of the track remaining dry, conditions suddenly proved impossible for those behind the wheel.
Five cars entered the corner and not one of them managed to keep it on track in the wet. An LMP2 car careered straight into the outside wall, followed immediately by a Glickenhaus Hypercar that somehow managed to avoid making contact with a spinning GTE-Am Ferrari.
The No. 3 Cadillac also spun into the inside barrier before skidding back across the track. Finally, the GTE-Am-leading No. 86 Porsche following close behind went into the same wall the Ferrari had hit earlier.
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) June 10, 2023
A lengthy safety car period was then brought out to repair barriers, remove debris and allowed those entering the Porsche curves to take the section at a far safer speed.
With just five hours now left in the epic race, regardless of the winner, the start will be remembered for years to come.