Le Mans 2017: Thursday
Live Text
Sort by
Twitter
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCYq8NJXkAIyrY0.jpg"/>End of the qualifying session 2:
#13 : P4 (3:27.012) - @MathiasBeche
#31 : P5 (3:27.564) - @BSenna
#LEMANS24 #VaillanteREBELLION https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCYq8NJXkAIyrY0.jpg
Information
That was certainly a more eventful session that last night's opening qualifying segment. Two red flags, a mechanical drama for the #8 Toyota, the Japanese manufacturer laying down a very impressive marker and plenty of spins and errors meant there was a lot going on. Oh and Autosport getting a round of Earl Grey tea.
LMP2
A look at Buret's big shunt on the approach to Tertre Rouge:
LMP1
So Toyota managed to impress in two ways during that session. First with Kobayashi's record-breaking lap and then with the speed with which the team completed an engine change on the #8 car. But as it stands, we still have Porsches second and third on the grid.
The session will not be resumed - so that's it until the final two-hour session.
Information
Just as the red flag came out, Buemi returned to the track in the #8 Toyota after its engine change.
GTE PRO
Christensen goes fifth in class with a 3m52.177s in the #92 Porsche.
Red flag
RED FLAG.
Crash
Buret ran wide out of the esses and hit the wall.
Crash
The #23 Panis Barthez Ligier of Buret is in the gravel at Tertre Rouge. He'd just improved that car's time.
Slow Zone
We have another slow zone now through the Porsche Curves.
GTE PRO
Pilet has set the #91 Porsche's fastest lap of the day, a 3m52.593s, but in doing so he's picked up a track-limits warning - and is still ninth in class, albeit less than a second off the provisional pole time.
LMP2
Bradley puts the #40 Graff ORECA up to 12th.
LMP2
Gutierrez puts the #22 G-Drive/DragonSpeed ORECA up to ninth.
LMP2
We've also seen an improvement from 45-year-old rookie Rubens Barrichello. He's done a 3m31.766s in the #29 RTN Dallara and is 18th
LMP2
Menezes improves in the #36 Signatech ORECA. He's eighth. Three places behind him is Gutierrez, who has improved in the #22 G-Drive/DragonSpeed ORECA
GTE AM
That was Hankey's last shot because he's just come in to the pits.
LMP2
Brundle has improved the best time of the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA. He's sixth
LMP2
Senna has put the #31 Rebellion ORECA back up to fourth with a lap of 3m27.564s
GTE PRO
The top eight cars in the GTE Pro battle as we near the end of second qualifying:
GTE AM
Order change in GTE Am as Stevens goes top in the #84 Ferrari with a 3m53.981s. Hankey is also on the move, now second in the #90 Aston with a 3m54.319s.
Crash
The stop/start adventures of Aleshin in the #27 SMP Dallara continue as he's stopped at the exit of the Porsche Curves. But he then gets going again. He's close to the pits now
LMP2
We now have Vaxiviere back out in the #28 TDS ORECA that held overnight LMP2 pole. It's been shuffled back to eighth, so will we see an attempt to reclaim top spot? He was certainly very enthusiastic about the possibility of taking pole on his first Le Mans appearance when chatting to him earlier today.
LMP1
Either that or everyone's still in shock at Kobayashi's lap.
LMP1
There haven't been any improvements in LMP1 for quite a while now. It seems the focus has switched away from fast qualifying laps.
LMP2
Aleshin is still reported to be going slowly in the #27 SMP Dallara
Yellow flag
More yellows, this time near Mulsanne corner. Could be Aleshin slowing again...
GTE PRO
Calado sets the #51 AF Corse Ferrari's quickest time of the day, and beats its previous best - which he set last night - with a 3m52.465s. That's sixth in class.
LMP2
Konopka hops across the final chicane in the #49 entry
Green flag
And the yellow has cleared again as Aleshin is moving again
Crash
Aleshin has stopped again in the #27 SMP Dallara!
Yellow flag
No - the yellows are back. This time it's at the second Mulsanne chicane
Driver Change
We've now Sarrazin in the pacesetting #7 Toyota for the first time.
Green flag
The whole track is now green at Le Mans. But it's not that busy with 24 minutes of the session remaining. The calm before the storm?
LMP2
Sounds like Aleshin has got back going again
GTE PRO
The #67 Ford has been told to stay within the track limits at the exit of the Porsche Curves.
Crash
It's the #27 SMP Dallara that has stopped, with Aleshin at the wheel. That's the car that caught fire yesterday, so that's not good news
Yellow flag
There's apparently now a yellow in the vicinity of the first Mulsanne chicane
LMP1
There was just a quick change of nose for the #9 Toyota as Lopez prepares for another run.
By: Matt Beer
Published:
Page:
