Le Mans 24h: Ferrari tops first qualifying, Hyperpole spots decided

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The Italian automaker asserted its dominance by clinching the first two positions with its two 499P Le Mans Hypercars, outpacing the Toyota GR010 HYBRIDs which secured the third and fourth spots.

Alessandro Pier Guidi delivered a remarkable performance, clocking 3m25.412s in the #51 Ferrari, although his run was slightly hampered towards the end by a GTE Am Aston. Shortly after, his time was surpassed by Antonio Fuoco in the #50 Ferrari, who recorded a 3m25.213s to seize the pole position.

Kamui Kobayashi of Toyota initially set the pace in the #7 car, recording a 3m25.485s early in the session, but ultimately fell behind the Ferraris by 0.3s and narrowly ahead of Brendon Hartley in the sister #8 Toyota.

Coming up next in the two-by-two arrangement from the top manufacturers were two Porsche 963 LMDhs. Frederic Makowiecki in the #5 car lead Felipe Nasr in the #75 car, with both lagging by 0.6s behind the Ferraris.

The final entries from the Hypercar class that qualified for the eight-car Hyperpole showdown were the two Cadillacs from Chip Ganassi Racing’s V-Series.R LMDhs. Sebastien Bourdais was just ahead in the #3 car of Earl Bamber in the #2 car, both less than a second behind the lead.

Kevin Estre’s #6 Porsche missed the cut-off by almost a second, and will consequently begin ninth. Peugeot was unable to qualify either of its 9X8 LMHs for the top eight, with Mikkel Jensen in the #93 car leading Loic Duval in the #94 vehicle.

Rounding off the Hypercar field were the Action Express Caddy, the Glickenhaus 007s duo, and the Vanwall Vandervell 680. The privateer Porsche 963 from JOTA did not post a time due to issues related to the hybrid system.

The hour-long session was marked by two early red flags, the first due to a collision between Filipe Albuquerque’s #22 United Autosports LMP2 vehicle and Matthieu Vaxiviere’s #36 Alpine ORECA in the final chicane. The session was then briefly resumed only to be stopped once more by the #37 Cool Racing LMP2 of Malthe Jakobsen colliding with the Indianapolis barriers.

Throughout the majority of the session, the LMP2 leaderboard was topped by the #28 JOTA entry of Pietro Fittipaldi, who achieved a 3m34.751s time, narrowly defeating Louis Deletraz in the #41 WRT-entered ORECA by merely two thousandths of a second.

The #63 Prema ORECA of Mirko Bortolotti made a late surge to third place, ahead of the #48 IDEC Sport and #10 Vector Sport cars.

There were last-minute changes in the GTE Am class as the top spot changed hands multiple times in the closing stages. Charlie Eastwood’s TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage was leading for most of the session until a flurry of late improvements.

Nicky Catsburg in the lone Corvette C8.R, after repairs following Nico Varrone’s Tertre Rouge practice crash, took the lead on his first flying lap with just four minutes left. He was soon displaced to third by two late efforts from Ferrari drivers.

Davide Rigon in the #54 AF Corse 488 seemed to have clinched the top spot, only to be outperformed

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about by François Perrodo in the #83 Iron Lynx Ferrari, who secured the first place in the GTE Am category with an exceptional last-lap effort.

The AF Corse #51 and #52 entries led the GTE Pro category, demonstrating Ferrari’s overall strong showing. Daniel Serra in the #52 car set a benchmark with a 3m49.115s lap, followed closely by James Calado in the sister car. The two Porsche 911 RSRs from the factory team rounded out the top four, with Kevin Estre’s #92 vehicle leading Michael Christensen’s #91 car.

This was undoubtedly an exciting qualifying session, setting the stage for an intense Hyperpole and the following 24h race at Le Mans. The speed and agility of the Hypercars and the fierce competition between drivers add another level of exhilaration to the legendary endurance race. Stay tuned for more updates and news as we get closer to the main event.

Who dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 2023?

In the 2023 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota claimed victory in the overall category and the LMP1 class. They asserted their domination with their hybrid race cars.

Which team won in the GTE Pro and GTE Am categories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023?

Ferrari triumphed in both the GTE Pro and GTE Am categories at the 2023 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their victories marked a significant milestone for the Italian automaker.

How did the power balance shift at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023?

In the 2023 race, the power balance shifted dramatically. While Toyota continued their dominance in the LMP1 class, Ferrari made a strong showing in the GTE Pro and GTE Am categories, signifying a major shift in performance.

What makes the 24 Hours of Le Mans such a thrilling competition?

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most prestigious and unpredictable endurance races in the world. It’s not just about speed, but also strategy, reliability, and the ability to endure through a full day of non-stop racing. Every year brings new surprises and shifts in power balance, adding to the thrill and uncertainty of the competition.

What’s the significance of the hybrid race cars used by Toyota?

Hybrid race cars, like the ones used by Toyota, represent the cutting edge of racing technology. They combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, providing high performance while also demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. Toyota’s success with hybrid technology in the LMP1 class of Le Mans showcases the potential of these vehicles in endurance racing.

More about by François Perrodo in the #83 Iron Lynx Ferrari, who secured the first place in the GTE Am category with an exceptional last-lap effort.

The AF Corse #51 and #52 entries led the GTE Pro category, demonstrating Ferrari’s overall strong showing. Daniel Serra in the #52 car set a benchmark with a 3m49.115s lap, followed closely by James Calado in the sister car. The two Porsche 911 RSRs from the factory team rounded out the top four, with Kevin Estre’s #92 vehicle leading Michael Christensen’s #91 car.

This was undoubtedly an exciting qualifying session, setting the stage for an intense Hyperpole and the following 24h race at Le Mans. The speed and agility of the Hypercars and the fierce competition between drivers add another level of exhilaration to the legendary endurance race. Stay tuned for more updates and news as we get closer to the main event.

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5 comments

GearHeadJake June 9, 2023 - 5:02 am

Man, Toyotas domination is unreal! They’re killin’ it!

Reply
RaceFan77 June 9, 2023 - 5:02 am

Yea, bout time Ferrari took the reins in GTE Pro & Am. They deserve this!

Reply
EnduranceChamp June 9, 2023 - 5:02 am

can’t believe this, such a dramatic shift in the power balance! Just shows how unpredictable Le Mans is!

Reply
MotorMadness June 9, 2023 - 5:02 am

gotta say, love it when there’s some solid competition! more of this please!

Reply
PetrolHeadPaul June 9, 2023 - 5:02 am

Le Mans never disappoints… the greatest race on earth, hands down!

Reply

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