The 54th 24 Heures motonautiques de Rouen got underway this morning at 10.30 CET.

A 30 minute delay in starting the boats was due to a suspected suicide earlier, not related to the race and the French Police had closed the river.

All other times are expected to be unchanged giving the competitors a 23.5 Heure race.

Team Nollet (below), headed by Philippe Chiappe, who is attempting to win the 24 Hours Motonautique de Rouen for the fifth time in a row, lead the race after 97 laps.

Chasing them down and just a lap behind are VSI Racing (below.

Photos: Chris Davies