07.06.2023 - 19h00

LM24 Qualifying: Ferrari 1-2 in Hypercar; JOTA on top in LMP2; Ferrari fastest in LMGTE Am

Below are the main headlines from this evening’s qualifying session at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, round four of FIA WEC.

Hypercar

Ferrari AF Corse take 1-2 in qualifying practice as No.50 Ferrari 499P Hypercar driven by Antonio Fuoco sets 3m25.213s.
That time is just 0.199s ahead of sister Ferrari 499P as Alessandro Pier Guidi sets time.
Pier Guidi briefly had the top lap but was immediately beaten by his countryman Fuoco.
Toyota places third and fourth with No.7 Toyota just outpacing the No.8 because as Kamui Kobayashi and Brendon Hartley set times respectively.
Qualifying Practice is red flagged twice during session. The first stoppage for a collision between Filipe Albuquerque in No.22 United Autosports LMP2 car and No.36 Alpine ELF Team car driven by Matthieu Vaxiviere. The second red flag was flown for an accident at Indianapolis involving the No.37 Cool Racing Oreca-Gibson with Malte Jakobsen aboard.
In addition to the top four No.5 and No.75 Porsche Penskes with the No.3 and No.2 Cadillac Racing entries go through to Hyperpole on Thursday evening.
No.38 Jota Porsche 963 stops on circuit in early part of one hour session and car returns to pits for repairs on hybrid system before heading out again only for recurrence of issue.
Fastest non-Hybrid entry is the No.708 Glickenhaus 007LMH.

The @ferrarihypercar #50 is today's fastest Hypercar during qualifying practice in 3:25.213. Will Ferrari clinch the Hyperpole tomorrow at Le Mans, let's wait and see... #WEC #LeMans24 #LeMansCentenary pic.twitter.com/KFFHfC0O0P
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) June 7, 2023

LMP2

Jota had led early on in the LMP2 category as Pietro Fittipaldi scorched to a best lap of 3m34.751s
Fittipaldi ensures that time is good enough to top the session.
Second is the No.41 WRT entry as Louis Deletraz sets team who took pole last year.
Third place is the No.63 Prema entry as Mirko Bortolotti sets last minute time.
IDEC Sport Oreca-Gibson is fourth as Paul Loup Chatin sets time for incoming ELMS.
In addition to the top four, also making it through to Hyperpole are: Vector Sport, No.47 Cool Racing, Racing Team Turkey, No.37 Cool Racing and No.9 Prema Racing entry.
Mirko Bortolotti in No.63 car and No.9 sister car driven by Ben Viscaal had earlier set exactly the same time!

LMGTE AM

Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari takes last gasp fastest lap with Alessio Rovera setting fastest lap of 3m51.877s
No.54 AF Corse Ferrari makes it a 1-2 for the Prancing Horse with Davide Rigon lapping just 0.022s shy of Rovera.
Points leading No.33 Corvette Racing entry is repaired after free practice accident and Nicky Catsburg goes third in LMGTE Am and makes it through to Hyperpole session in style.
Iron Dames have tough session as Michelle Gatting spins in to gravel at Dunlop Chicane.
In addition to the top three, also making it through to Hyperpole are: ORT by TF Sport, Kessel Racing, GMB Aston, No.21 AF Corse and No.74 Kessel Racing Ferrari

INNOVATION CLASS