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24 Hours of Le Mans
Le Mans 24 Hours 2015 Thursday: final qualifying
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That was either the world's shortest trip to the stewards or called off - the last four laps set by Extreme Speed Motorsport's #30 have been deleted for the aforementioned track limit abuse. The car is 15th in the 19-strong LMP2 crop.
The #17 Porsche reappears for the first time since it stopped early in the previous session for work on its hybrid system. Bernhard - fastest in the car yesterday - takes it out.
A couple of misdemeanours from the LMP2 crop - Sharp in the #30 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ligier has been reported to the stewards for abusing the track limits.
Meanwhile, Pegasus Racing has been reminded that it should really be using the headlights on its Morgan. You could still play a ball sport in this level of darkness, but lights are best for motorsport.
Meanwhile, Pegasus Racing has been reminded that it should really be using the headlights on its Morgan. You could still play a ball sport in this level of darkness, but lights are best for motorsport.
Twitter
@Audi__Sport: "Our No. 8 gets a new nose and a new driver: now @loicduval behind the wheel."
Duval - fastest qualifier in the #8 Audi yesterday - takes over from Jarvis. And the #2 Toyota reappears with Wurz still at the wheel.
Bruni improves again, and this time it's even more significant: the #51 Ferrari, last year's winner, goes second - less than a tenth behind the polesitting #99 Aston.
Toyota's first runs in this session didn't last long - both cars are back in the garages now. We still have two Porsches and three Audis on track, but they're all well outside of the best times we saw last night.
Eighth place for the lead Manthey Porsche. In the hands of Jorg Bergmeister the #91 car does a 3m56.741s.
The Ibanez LMP2 entry has limped back into pitlane, has been put on the go-jacks and wheeled straight into the garage.
Tincknell moves the #22 Nissan up to 14th, just behind the #23 car. Both are 21 seconds adrift of the Porsche up front.
Anyone who would have been eyeing a qualifying attempt in this final session would have expected to be going for that all-out run around 22:05-22:10 with the session's planned start time of 22:00.
Given that we started early, that golden period is still nearly half an hour away, so let's see what happens when darkness properly falls.
Given that we started early, that golden period is still nearly half an hour away, so let's see what happens when darkness properly falls.
Albuquerque misses out on bettering the #9 Audi's time by two tenths this time around.
The first signs of life from GTE as Gianmari Bruni elevates the #51 Ferrari to sixth overall and fifth in Pro on a 3m56.257s.
No improvements for any of the Audis on that lap - Albuquerque came closest but he was still a second adrift of the #9's best.
Dumas and Hulkenberg are some way off their cars' best times on these first attempts, too.
Dumas and Hulkenberg are some way off their cars' best times on these first attempts, too.
Wurz falls two tenths short of improving the #2 Toyota's best of 3m23.5s.
At the wheel in LMP1:
#18 Porsche - Dumas
#19 Porsche - Hulkenberg
#8 Audi - Jarvis
#7 Audi - Fassler
#9 Audi - Albuquerque
#2 Toyota - Wurz
#1 Toyota - Nakajima
#18 Porsche - Dumas
#19 Porsche - Hulkenberg
#8 Audi - Jarvis
#7 Audi - Fassler
#9 Audi - Albuquerque
#2 Toyota - Wurz
#1 Toyota - Nakajima
We have two Porsches, three Audis, and two Toyotas on track. The #17 Porsche (currently second) has not emerged yet. It was parked early in the first session today so that work could be carried out on the hybrid system before final qualifying.
Perhaps the fact that the final session has started 30 minutes early has meant Porsche doesn't yet have the car ready to run.
Perhaps the fact that the final session has started 30 minutes early has meant Porsche doesn't yet have the car ready to run.
Green flag
Final qualifying is go. Cars are streaming out of the pits and the sun is setting in the background.
However, given how short the turnaround has been from that disrupted first session, it could put some of the big hitters off of altering their programme to fit in another qualifying attempt.
Just like you, we're hoping everyone goes for it. The early minutes of qualifying last night were superb to follow as the timing screens lit up with flying lap attempts.
Just like you, we're hoping everyone goes for it. The early minutes of qualifying last night were superb to follow as the timing screens lit up with flying lap attempts.
We've got our first cars heading to the end of the pitlane ahead of this extended 2h30m final qualifying session. If anyone fancies a crack at pole position in their respective classes, the next 30-45 minutes could be the prime opportunity.
Twitter
Corvette driver Tommy Milner with some good news.
@TommyMilner: "Jan's OK - Back in the garage here."
@TommyMilner: "Jan's OK - Back in the garage here."
Twitter
An update from Kraihamer after his earlier crash in the Rebellion.
@DodoKraihamer: "I'm doing fine, some wouldn't even call it an "impact". I luckily could avoid a much bigger crash by kissing this tyre wall. Back for Q3!!"
@DodoKraihamer: "I'm doing fine, some wouldn't even call it an "impact". I luckily could avoid a much bigger crash by kissing this tyre wall. Back for Q3!!"
Twitter
The Corvette has been recovered back to the pits after its hefty shunt.
@LeMansLive: "The @CorvetteRacing 63 after its crash."
@LeMansLive: "The @CorvetteRacing 63 after its crash."
Checkered flag
Confirmation that the session has been brought to an early halt. Qualifying 3 is due to start at 21:30 local time for an extended session.
Twitter
It looks like that's it for now.
@Audi__Sport: "The session will not restart. Qualifying 3 will begin earlier."
We are still awaiting official confirmation.
@Audi__Sport: "The session will not restart. Qualifying 3 will begin earlier."
We are still awaiting official confirmation.
Red flag
Still under red flag here. The clock remains frozen. But if the stoppage goes on much longer, will be impossible to complete the full 42m16s of remaining running in time for the 10pm final-session start.
The Corvette is making its way to the pits on the back of a flatbed. Hopefully the session isn't far off resuming.
Twitter
@jbleekemolen: "Hope @janmagnussen is ok after that hit @24hoursoflemans Took his helmet off himself so that is good."
Red flag
The clock has stopped during this red flag while Magnussen (who was moving around in the car) is seen to by medical officials. So while we should have only 19 minutes to go, there's still 42m16s on the clock.
Quote
That Magnussen shunt will test something Doug Fehan, Corvette program manager, told AUTOSPORT earlier today.
"We’ve experienced every condition," he said, citing the team's ability to bounce back from difficult scenarios. "Catastrophic consequences are meaningless."
"We’ve experienced every condition," he said, citing the team's ability to bounce back from difficult scenarios. "Catastrophic consequences are meaningless."
Crash
Replays show Magnussen hit the barriers with the front-right of his C7.R after a wobble through the middle part of the Porsche Curves.
The car straightens up almost immediately after getting slightly out of shape, which caused it to smash the barrier. An odd impact, one that's caused quite a bit of damage to the car.
Magnussen's still in the car but receiving attention from the medical team.
The car straightens up almost immediately after getting slightly out of shape, which caused it to smash the barrier. An odd impact, one that's caused quite a bit of damage to the car.
Magnussen's still in the car but receiving attention from the medical team.
Red flag
Jan Magnussen has crashed at the Porsche Curves, and it looks like a big hit for the #63 Corvette.
Ordonez is nursing the #21 Nissan back to the pits. It's not exactly crawling, but it's being passed by GTE cars as he pulls into the pitlane.
The #21 Nissan is reported to be travelling slowly near the end of the Mulsanne straight.
Oliver Beretta becomes the latest driver to irk the stewards, copping a black and white flag for the #71 Ferrari for track limits at Tertre Rouge.
Few cars lapping particularly quickly right now. But as the conditions improve, a good chance we'll see some people attempt qualifying runs in the final half-hour of the session (and then get repeated warnings for exceeding track limits).
Audi is feeling the track limits heat from the officials at the moment. #9 has been reported to the stewards for abuse of the limits at Tertre Rouge, while Fassler's #7 car has picked up a black and white warning flag for the same offence.
Twitter
Looks like session over for the #17 Porsche.
@PorscheRaces: 20.18: Mechanics work on the hybrid system of car 17 to get it ready for Q3. @24hoursoflemans #lemans @FIAWEC
@PorscheRaces: 20.18: Mechanics work on the hybrid system of car 17 to get it ready for Q3. @24hoursoflemans #lemans @FIAWEC
Paul Dalla Lana has had an off at the first Mulsanne chicane but continued. Yes, the action's currently that hot in GTE.
Some improvements in the lower reaches of LMP1: Kaffer has moved the CLM up to 11th overall, putting it ahead of the LMP2 leaders and the fastest Nissan.
There's better news for one of the other Nissan crews - Ordonez has moved the #21 up to 18th overall. With the #23 13th and #22 in 22nd, we have all three Nissans on the first page of the timing screen for the first time.
There's better news for one of the other Nissan crews - Ordonez has moved the #21 up to 18th overall. With the #23 13th and #22 in 22nd, we have all three Nissans on the first page of the timing screen for the first time.
By: Scott Mitchell, AUTOSPORT staff, Edd Straw, Glenn Freeman, Mitchell Adam, Gary Watkins
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