Today’s qualifying session at 24 Hours of Le Mans – round 7 of FIA WEC Season 8 - saw the top six fastest cars from each category [LMP1, LMP2, LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am] progress through to tomorrow’s Hyperpole.
Hyperpole, which will run from 11h30 – 12h00 local time tomorrow [Friday], is a new-for-2020 shootout session which will determine the top grid positions for each category ahead of Saturday’s 24 hour race which will be held behind closed doors.
Kamui Kobayashi set the fastest time out of the LMP1 crews early on with a lap time of 3:17.089 in the No. 7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid, 0.247s ahead of the No. 8 sister car with fellow Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima at the wheel.
Third quickest was the No. 1 Rebellion R13 Gibson car, the car benefitting from a brand new engine after sitting out of the majority of FP2.
Le Mans returnees, ByKolles Racing Team were fourth fastest with Frenchman Tom Dillmann setting a time of 3:24.468 in the No.4 Enso CLM/P1/01. Rounding out the top five is the No. 3 Rebellion car. All five cars will progress to tomorrow’s Hyperpole to determine grid positions for Saturday’s race
Racing Team Nederland tops LMP2 times No. 29 Racing Team Nederland was fastest out of the 24 LMP2 entries, with Nyck De Vries setting a time of 3:26.648. Jackie Chan DC Racing proved second quickest in another ORECA 07 Gibson car as Will Stevens clocked a time of 3:27.097 early in the session. WEC LMP2 category leaders United Autosports finished third fastest after Paul Di Resta set a time of 3:27.148. Regular ELMS entry G-Drive Racing fourth quickest with a second United Autosports entry fifth overall. Sixth fastest overall – and taking the final slot in tomorrow’s Hyperpole – is the WEC’s No. 33 High Class Racing entry. The Danish team making a quick recovery after stopping on track during FP2
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LMGTE Am sees Aston Martin Racing on top In LMGTE Am, the No. 98 Aston Martin Racing entry was on top with Ross Gunn setting the pace early on with a time of 3:52.778 in the Aston Martin Vantage. TF Sport was second, the British squad 0.183s adrift of pace-setters Aston Martin Racing. Rounding out the top three in Am qualifying was Gulf Racing in the No. 86 Porsche 911 RSR. The final three slots for LMGTE Am entries in Hyperpole were taken by Luzich Racing plus full-time WEC entries Dempsey-Proton Racing and Team Project 1 who finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. FP3 will commence at 20h00 CEST local time tonight before a final practice session at 10h00 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow’s Hyperpole will get underway at 11h30.
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