Toyota sets sizzling pace at Le Mans

two pre-qualifying sessions for the 1999 Le Mans 24.
The Japanese driver set a fastest time of 3:32.426 midway through the
session at the Circuit de la Sarthe. The time is three seconds faster than
pole for last year's race.

Katayama was four seconds clear of the second-placed Panoz LMP Spyder
driven by Johnny O'Connell. The car first turned a wheel this morning and
set a time of 3:36.577.

An Audi Sport Team Joest R8R took third place on the provisional grid with
a time of 3:37.509 thanks to lead driver Michele Alboreto.

The ORECA Chrysler Viper driven by Karl Wendlinger set the fastest time in
the GTS class. Wendlinger's best of 3:59.361 was two seconds clear of the
second-placed Chamberlain Viper.

GT provisional pole was the property of the Manthey Racing Porsche 993 GT3
with a time of 4:11.629.

Five cars have failed to make the cut for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours.
They are the Welter Gerard Peugeot LMP99 in the LMP class and the
RoockRacing Porsche 911 in GTS.

Three cars have failed to pre-qualify in the GT class: Porsche 911 RSRs run
by Perspective Racing's and MacQuillan Gerard, and the Brookspeed Racing
Chrysler Viper.

The second six-hour prequalifying session on Sunday afternoon will decide
who goes into qualifying for the 1999 Le Mans 24 Hours on provisional pole
position.

Le Mans pre-qualifying session one times

1. Ukyo Katayama, Toyota Motorsports, Toyota GT-One, 3:32.426

2. Johnny O'Connell/Jan Magnussen/Max Angelelli, Panoz Motorsports, Panoz
LMP Spyder, 3:36.577

3. Michele Alboreto/Ronaldo Capello, Audi Sport Team Joest, Audi R8R,
3:37.509

4. Christophe Tunseau/Franck Montagny/David Terrien, DAMS, Lola T98/10,
3:37.600

5. Eric van de Poele/Satoshi Montoyama/Michael Krumm, Nissan Motorsports,
Nissan R391, 3:38.000

6. Christophe Bouchut/Peter Dumbreck/Nick Heidfeld, AMG Mercedes, Mercedes
CLR, 3:39.730

7. Jerome Policand/Mauro Baldi/Christian Pescatori, JB Jabouille/Bouresche,
Ferrari 333SP, 3:40.573

8. Andreas Montermini/Alex Caffi/Mimmo Schiattarella, Courage Competition,
Courage C52, 3:42.785

GTS Olivier Beretta/Karl Wendlinger/Jean-Pierre Belloc, ORECA, Chrysler
Viper, 3:59.361

GT Uwe Alzen, Luca Riccitelli, Porsche 993 GT3, 4:11.629