With film star Brad Pitt giving the official race start at the 24 Hours Le Mans endurance race, it fittingly ended with a Hollywood finish as Porsche defended their title in dramatic fashion after Toyota relinquished the lead minutes from the end on Sunday (19th June).

It was moviestar Brad Pitt who had given the official start mid-afternoon on Saturday at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Standing in the middle of the track, he held a French flag as the race began in pouring rain with the 60 cars starting behind the safety car, but that would not be the only drama in this Le Mans 24 race.

Despite the bad weather, 263,500 spectators attended the race weekend.

Toyota was poised to clinch its first Le Mans victory - then this happned on the penultamate lasp.

Nakajima had lost all power on the pit straight - allowing Swiss driver Jani to overtake in his #2 Porsche.

The Toyoto garage was distraught as they could hardly believe what they were witnessing. An historic race victory had just evaporated with minutes left. Even Brad Pitt couldn't contain his shock.

It would have been Toyoto's first ever Le Mans win. But in true hollywood style, a dramactic end was now a part of the script as Porsche defended thier title as their #2 car driven by Jani crossed the line first.

Toyota's #6 car - driven by Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin - took second place.

Audi moved up to third, maintaining its record of a podium every year since making its debut in 1999.

Frenchman Dumas and Germany's Marc Lieb were the other winning drivers for #2 Porsche.