Hypercar, LMP2, and LMGT3 were also on the track today to prepare for one of the most challenging Endurance races in the world. After yesterday’s qualifiers, the teams used the nighttime session to better test the race pace during the night and refine the setup in view of the race. There was also a lot of activity in FP3, with the cars continuing their setup work and preparing for the final qualifying session. Let’s now find out the results of the Hyperpole session that determined the starting grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024.
During yesterday’s qualifying session there were plenty of twists and turns, especially in the top class. In fact, Toyota, after failing to make it into the top eight with the GR010 #8, received another cold shower for the reigning champions. Times were canceled for the #7 and it was sent to the back of the grid for causing the red flag a few minutes before the end of the session.
There were also surprises for Porsche, with two 963s admitted to the Hyperpole. However, the #12 of the Jota team had a severe impact with the barriers at the end of FP2 compromising the chassis. The damage was such that it required replacement and the car couldn’t compete in FP3 and Hyperpole.
The Hyperpole session started about half an hour late to repair damage caused by an accident in the “Road to Le Mans”. In the first attempt of the Hyperpole, the two official Ferrari cars secured the front row with mid-low 3:26 times. However, the times recorded by Antonio Fuoco and Alessandro Pier Guidi, the drivers chosen for the Hyperpole, were still high, considering that last year, Antonio Fuoco’s time was 3:22.9.
In the second attempt, the Cadillac #3 further improved the already optimized time of Antonio Fuoco, setting the limit at 3:25.294. In LMGT3 the battle for the Hyperpole seemed to be a Ferrari and McLaren affair, driven respectively by Inception Racing and JMW Motorsport. Returning to the top class, Bourdais significantly improved his previous time. In LMP2 after the first run, the #14 of the AO by TF team was in pole and ahead of the #37 of Cool Racing. Meanwhile, in LMGT3, Manthey’s Porsche #92 overtook Ferrari #66.
A twist occurred with less than 8 minutes remaining, with the BMW #15 of Vanthoor going off at Indianapolis causing a red flag. At the same moment when the BMW went into the gravel, the 499P #50 with Antonio Fuoco was significantly improving Bourdais’ time, but the red flag canceled all advantage. With the red flag still ongoing, the race direction announced the cancellation of the #15’s times and it will start from the eighth spot on Saturday.
In the second attempt, the #51 managed to snatch the second place from its sister car driven by Antonio Fuoco, while Bourdais’ time with the Cadillac seemed unattainable. In LMP2, Louis Deletraz further increased his lead by 0.6 seconds over IDEC Sport. Meanwhile, in LMGT3 the pole went to Inception Racing ahead of Manthey Racing.
In Hypercar, Porsche #6 clinched Pole position on the last attempt ahead of the two Cadillacs which seemed unreachable. Kevin Estre was very fortunate in catching a powerful draft exiting Mulsanne and up to Indianapolis. The starting grid will still undergo changes, with the Cadillac #2 having to serve a 5-position penalty on the grid for the Spa incident. Therefore, Cadillac #3 moves up to second, followed by the two official Ferrari 499Ps and the Alpine #35.
Source: f1ingenerale
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