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WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans

Le Mans 2017: Wednesday

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We should be 11 minutes into first qualifying, but we're yet to get underway. There's various drivers hanging around the place, some in cars at the pit entry. Wonder if they are getting the race control start-time updates that we aren't?
The #22 TDS-run G-Drive car is also queuing at the pit exit.
Well, the number #38 Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA is sat at the pit exit. Looks like Tung is at the wheel of that one. There's another car in front of him, but can't see which one.
Some people, of course, believe that time is not a linear process.
Race control assured us that there will be an update on when the session will start about seven minutes ago. That went well.
Porsche advising that Richard Lietz will start the #91 car and Michael Christensen the #92 in this qualifying session. The new 911s showed promise during practice but slid down the order later in the session as others improved.
Autosport legendary sportscar journalist Gary Watkins is having a problem. He's lost his tea bag.
Race control estimates a start in 30 seconds. Looks unlikely right now...
There's various cars out in the pitlane and everyone is keen to go as the track conditions should be excellent - still some light out there.
Qualifying is clearly delayed as there some work going on on the barriers. Should have just started, but very much hasn't.
Race control has not advised of any delay - but it has also not advised that there will be no delay. This is France, so that could mean anything.
If you fancy something to listen to while following qualifying live, try our Le Mans preview podcast. It features 2015 winner Nick Tandy, former Audi factory driver Oliver Jarvis and Ford GT ace Harry Tincknell
Podcast: 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours preview episode
Qualifying is scheduled to start in 12 minutes, but race control has warned of a possible delay thanks to clear up from the red-flagged Road to Le Mans practice session.
Fastest in LMP2 was the #26 G-Drive ORECA of Alex Lynn. That's fielded under the G-Drive banner but run by DragonSpeed. The Rebellion ORECAs were second and third with Beche second in the #13 car and Senna third in the #31 machine.
So the #1 Porsche of Jani ends the sessions fastest, 0.604s faster than the #7 Toyota of Kobayashi.
Here's the #67 Ford getting it wrong at the final chicane

Here's the #67 Ford getting it wrong at the final chicane

The #67 Ford driven by Priaulx has had a quick spin at the final chicane.
With just five minutes of practice left, Jani has put the #1 Porsche to the top of the timesheets with a 3m20.362s to go 0.604s faster than Kobayashi.
The team manager of the #47 Villorba Corse Dallara that caused that slow zone and driver Lacorte have been ordered to go to race control immediately after the session.
Replays also show Menezes in the #36 Signatech ORECA having a brief off track moment at the final chicane.
We have a slow zone in the final part of Mulsanne. The car that's off is the #47 Dallara driven by Lacorte.
There's a car off nosed against the barrier. It's an LMP2 car by the looks of it but we can't tell which one.
ORECA holds 14 of the top 15 places in LMP2. The only interloper is the #27 SMP Dallara in 10th. Shaytar set the time in that car earlier.

Here's a look at the aftermath of that spin for Kobayashi at the final corner 


Here's the Proton machine glancing the barrier a moment ago 

Spin for Kobayashi! The Toyota driver had been setting fast sector times but ran wide out of the final corner, got onto the gravel and spun.
Calado improves again - 3m55.504s - but it's not enough to leapfrog the #97 Aston and he remains third in the #51 AF Corse Ferrari.
The Proton Competition smites the barrier, rumpling the bodywork on the right-hand side and depositing part of its rear wing on track. It was running slowest of all in the hands of Lemeret.
While we're not convinced anyone is going to better Lamy's 3m56.082s this session – he might not, since Dalla Lana has now taken his place in the Am class-leading #98 Aston – there has been movement further down the timesheets as Vanthoor put the #84 Ferrari second on 3m57.614 before handing over to Smith. Wee is now aboard the erstwhile class-leading #60 Ferrari that punctured at the top of the hour.

By: Matt Beer

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