An error mistaking a driver for a maꦬrshal has been identified as the extraord෴inary reason why the #7 Toyota retired from the lead of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Kamui Kobayashi, Mike Conway and Stephane Sarrazin led for Toyota 10 hours into the endꩵurance classic from pole position when the #7 car slowed shortly after a pit-stop with what was later revealed to clutch problem.

With the Japanese driver unable to get the car back to the pit lane for repairs, it marked a bitter and s✱udden retirement for the car that had largely dominated from the flag.

However, in a bizarre twist, it has come to light the reason the clutch overheated was because Kobayashi on instruction of his team stopped at the end of the pit lane after its mistook a driver waving in enthusiastic support was mistaken for marshal asking him to sꦿtop.

"The lead car, the #7, had an extremely surprising problem," technical director Pascal Vasselon revealed to Eurosport. "It had been stopped in the safety car queue and somebody who seemed to be a marshal came to𒅌 make it start u🌳p.

"But the light was red [in the pit laꦑne], so we stopped it. He started an❀d stopped again two or three times, which was not planned, and it overheated the clutch."

As it turns out, the person in question was Algarve Pro Racing driver Vincent Capillaire, who was waving encouragement towards Kobayashi. However, his position near the end of the pit lane coupled to his oraᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚnge overalls - perceived similar to that of the marshals - caught Toyota out.

Capillaire was later f🍎ined for the incident, the Frenchman owning up to his mistake and apologising for the confusion caused.

"I was waiting for my turn, helmet on the head at my box. I wanted to show my encouragement to the leader car, stopped at red lဣight a few metres in front of my box. It was a spontaneous encouragement mark as it happens between drivers. I was fined by Stewards for this gesture and I admit it was inopportune. I regret that."

The exit, coupled to a crash for the #9 car and long delays for𝐆 the #8 car meant Toyota's wait fo𝓡r an elusive Le Mans win suffers on for another year.

The #2 Porsche won the Le Mans 24𝐆 Hours - for the manufacturer's third consecutive success - with the Algarve Pro Racing team ending up 3ꦓ2nd.