Le Mans 24h: Alpine fastest in qualifying, Le Mans-winning Ferrari is out

Hypercar

Alpine outpaced Cadillac by 0.013s in qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hours, as last year’s winner, the #83 Ferrari, failed to make the top 15 and will therefore miss out on Hyperpole. 

Tom Gamble’s opening effort with the #007 Aston Martin Valkyrie was faster than anyone’s, as he lapped in 3m24.163s, which only Earl Bamber’s benchmark outperformed in Free Practice 1.

Rivals cars swiftly closed in without matching the Briton’s time, and so 15 minutes into the half-hour session, the top seven cars were contained within three-tenths of a second – featuring the sister #009 Aston Martin (Alex Riberas), the #12 Cadillac (Louis Deletraz), the #20 BMW (Rene Rast), the #35 Alpine (Ferdinand Habsburg), the #101 Cadillac (Jordan Taylor) and the #38 Cadillac (Sebastien Bourdais).

With the top 15 to be qualified for Hyperpole, Frederic Makowiecki’s #36 Alpine and the Peugeots driven by Malthe Jakobsen and Stoffel Vandoorne were at risk of not making the cut. In the #83 AF Corse Ferrari, Phil Hanson was just two tenths clear of the danger zone.

The pecking order subsequently became increasingly tight, with Sebastien Buemi’s #8 Toyota and Kevin Magnussen’s #15 BMW joining the fray of the fastest nine cars within 0.3s, while improvement from Makowiecki and Vandoorne left the #83 Ferrari – which put two wheels on the grass exiting the Forest Esses – and the #19 Genesis (Daniel Juncadella) vulnerable.

Gamble was eventually outpaced – significantly – by several cars, the fastest of which turned out to be Habsburg’s #35 Alpine, whose last-gasp effort – a 3m23.135s – beat Deletraz’ #12 Jota Cadillac by just 0.013s.

The #101 WTR Cadillac driven by Taylor was third, two tenths down, followed by Rast’s #20 BMW, Bourdais’ #38 Jota Cadillac and Magnussen’s #15 BMW.

Hanson did not make it out of the danger zone in the #83 Ferrari, with his best attempt a 3m25.495s, half a second slower than Vandoorne’s #93 Peugeot and only narrowly avoiding last place – Jakobsen’s #94 Peugeot was only 0.165s slower.

The two factory Ferraris qualified for Hyperpole, albeit by less than half a second.

Pin puts Duqueine on top in LMP2

#30 Duqueine Team Oreca 07 Gibson: Doriane Pin, Julien Andlauer, Richard Verschoor

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

Doriane Pin dominated the joint 30-minute qualifying session for LMP2 and LMGT3 cars, setting the fastest time in the intermediate prototype category.

The Peugeot Hypercar reserve lapped the Circuit de la Sarthe in 3m34.662s, ending up more than half a second clear in the #30 Duqueine Oreca.

The battle boiled down to a straight fight between Pin and Ian Aguilera in the #37 CLX Motorsport Oreca 07, with the pair trading the top spot in the 30-minute session.

Silver-rated Aguilera appeared to have secured the top spot after setting a time of 3m35.229s, but Pin broke the track record in LMP2 to snatch the top spot with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Aguilera remained in second place, while Bijoy Garg propelled the #343 Inter Europol Oreca to third place towards the end of qualifying.

Louis Rousset was fourth-fastest for Panis Racing, while Ryan Cullen completed the top five for Vector Sport.

Only four cars did not progress into Hyperpole 1. Those were the #16 Proton Competition Oreca which missed much of the opening practice, the #17 Algarve Pro entry, the #48 RD Limited and the #3 DKR Engineering.

Corvette fastest in LMGT3... before disqualification

#34 Racing Team Turkey by TF Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R: Peter Dempsey, Salih Yoluc, Charlie Eastwood

Photo by: Marc Fleury

Peter Dempsey led the way for TF Sport in the LMGT3 class, topping the first qualifying session by just two-tenths of a second from Proton’s Eric Powell.

About halfway through the session, the Irishman set a best time of 3m55.744s in the full-season #34 Corvette Z06 GT3.R entry, which put him over a second ahead of the #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 of Dustin Blattner.

While several improvements followed over the final minutes, Dempsey held on to the top spot, with Powell ending up closest in the #77 Proton Ford Mustang GT3.

Gray Newell put the #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in third place, while James Cottingham finished fourth in the best of the two Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 Rs. Completing the top five was Darren Leung in the #32 WRT BMW M4 GT3.

Fifteen out of the 25 cars progressed into Hyperpole 1, with neither of the two Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3s making the cut. The Spa-winning #10 car qualified by Antares Ru could only manage the 17th quickest lap time, while Alexander West ended up 23rd in the sister entry.

However, the leading #34 Corvette ended up being disqualified due to excessive strake wear on its diffuser.

Qualifying results - Hypercar

Hypercar qualifying

All Stats

 

Cla	Team	#	Drivers	Car	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	35	A. Felix da Costa C. Milesi F. Habsburg	Alpine A424	9	3'23.135		241.482
2	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	12	L. Deletraz W. Stevens N. Nato	Cadillac V-Series.R	9	+0.013 3'23.148	0.013	241.467
3	Cadillac WTR HYPERCAR	101	R. Taylor J. Taylor F. Albuquerque	Cadillac V-Series.R	9	+0.188 3'23.323	0.175	241.259
4	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	20	R. Frijns R. Rast S. Van Der Linde	BMW M Hybrid V8	9	+0.309 3'23.444	0.121	241.115
5	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	38	S. Bourdais E. Bamber J. Aitken	Cadillac V-Series.R	9	+0.350 3'23.485	0.041	241.067
6	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	15	K. Magnussen R. Marciello D. Vanthoor	BMW M Hybrid V8	8	+0.490 3'23.625	0.140	240.901
7	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	009	A. Riberas M. Sorensen R. De Angelis	Aston Martin Valkyrie	8	+0.642 3'23.777	0.152	240.721
8	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	8	S. Buemi B. Hartley R. Hirakawa	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	9	+0.656 3'23.791	0.014	240.705
9	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	007	H. Tincknell T. Gamble R. Gunn	Aston Martin Valkyrie	8	+0.771 3'23.906	0.115	240.569
10	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	36	F. Makowiecki J. Gounon V. Martins	Alpine A424	9	+0.825 3'23.960	0.054	240.505
11	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	19	M. Jaminet P. Chatin D. Juncadella	Genesis GMR-001	8	+0.949 3'24.084	0.124	240.359
12	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	7	M. Conway K. Kobayashi N. de Vries	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	9	+1.179 3'24.314	0.230	240.089
13	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	17	A. Lotterer P. Derani M. Jaubert	Genesis GMR-001	8	+1.289 3'24.424	0.110	239.960
14	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	50	A. Fuoco N. Nielsen M. Molina	Ferrari 499P	8	+1.379 3'24.514	0.090	239.854
15	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	51	A. Pier Guidi J. Calado A. Giovinazzi	Ferrari 499P	8	+1.488 3'24.623	0.109	239.726
16	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	93	P. di Resta S. Vandoorne N. Cassidy	Peugeot 9X8	9	+1.843 3'24.978	0.355	239.311
17	AF Corse HYPERCAR	83	Y. Yifei R. Kubica P. Hanson	Ferrari 499P	8	+2.360 3'25.495	0.517	238.709
18	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	94	L. Duval M. Jakobsen T. Pourchaire	Peugeot 9X8	9	+2.525 3'25.660	0.165	238.517
View full results

Qualifying results - LMP2/LMGT3

LMP2/LMGT3

All Stats

 

Cla	Team	#	Drivers	Car	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	DUQUEINE TEAM LMP2	30	D. Pin J. Andlauer R. Verschoor	Oreca 07 - Gibson	6	3'34.662		228.515
2	CLX Motorsport LMP2	37	A. Closmenil I. Aguilera T. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+0.567 3'35.229	0.567	227.913
3	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	343	B. Garg R. de Gerus N. Müller	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+0.585 3'35.247	0.018	227.894
4	Forestier Racing by Panis LMP2	29	L. Rousset E. Masson O. Gray	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+1.436 3'36.098	0.851	226.997
5	VECTOR SPORT LMP2	26	R. Cullen V. Lomko P. Fittipaldi	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+1.643 3'36.305	0.207	226.779
6	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	43	J. Smiechowski T. Dillmann N. Yelloly	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+2.342 3'37.004	0.699	226.049
7	United Autosports LMP2	22	R. Lindh G. Saucy M. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+2.902 3'37.564	0.560	225.467
8	NIELSEN RACING LMP2	24	D. Heinemeier Hansson E. Pearson J. Doohan	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+3.003 3'37.665	0.101	225.362
9	IDEC SPORT LMP2	28	P. Lafargue V. Rinicella J. Van Uitert	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+3.063 3'37.725	0.060	225.300
10	Proton Competition LMP2	9	J. Ried K. Ohta H. King	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+3.426 3'38.088	0.363	224.925
11	AO by TF LMP2	99	P. Hyett J. Allen D. Cameron	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+4.036 3'38.698	0.610	224.298
12	Crowdstrike Racing by APR LMP2	4	G. Kurtz A. Quinn L. Heinrich	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+4.707 3'39.369	0.671	223.612
13	AF Corse LMP2	183	F. Perrodo M. Vaxiviere B. Barnicoat	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+5.323 3'39.985	0.616	222.986
14	TDS Racing LMP2	14	T. Lutke M. Beche K. Estre	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+5.602 3'40.264	0.279	222.703
15	United Autosports LMP2	222	D. Schneider B. Hanley O. Jarvis	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+6.756 3'41.418	1.154	221.542
16	Proton Competition LMP2	44	H. Felbermayr Jr. H. Felbermayr L. Fluxá	Oreca 07 - Gibson	8	+6.791 3'41.453	0.035	221.507
17	Algarve Pro Racing Team LMP2	25	M. Jensen E. Trulli J. Hughes	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+8.077 3'42.739	1.286	220.229
18	RD Limited LMP2	48	F. Poordad T. Vautier R. Dumas	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+8.194 3'42.856	0.117	220.113
19	DKR Engineering LMP2	3	J. Farano S. Alvarez R. van der Zande	Oreca 07 - Gibson	9	+8.889 3'43.551	0.695	219.429
20	Racing Team Turkey by TF LMGT3	34	P. Dempsey S. Yoluc C. Eastwood	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	8	+20.734 3'55.396	11.845	208.387
21	Proton Competition LMGT3	77	E. Powell B. Tuck S. Priaulx	Ford Mustang GT3	7	+21.289 3'55.951	0.555	207.897
22	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	23	G. Newell D. Barrichello J. Adam	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	7	+21.313 3'55.975	0.024	207.876
23	Manthey DK Engineering LMGT3	91	J. Cottingham T. Boguslavskiy A. Güven	Porsche 911 GT3 R	9	+21.521 3'56.183	0.208	207.693
24	TEAM WRT LMGT3	32	D. Leung S. Gelael A. Farfus	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	9	+21.875 3'56.537	0.354	207.382
25	Kessel Racing LMGT3	74	D. Blattner L. Patrese D. Marschall	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	7	+21.898 3'56.560	0.023	207.362
26	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	87	R. Umbrarescu C. Schmid J. Lopez	Lexus RC F GT3	8	+21.919 3'56.581	0.021	207.343
27	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	27	I. James Z. Robichon M. Drudi	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	8	+22.026 3'56.688	0.107	207.250
28	TEAM WRT LMGT3	69	A. McIntosh P. Thompson D. Harper	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	8	+22.038 3'56.700	0.012	207.239
29	Proton Competition LMGT3	88	S. Gattuso G. Levorato L. Sargeant	Ford Mustang GT3	6	+22.269 3'56.931	0.231	207.037
30	IRON LYNX LMGT3	61	M. Berry R. Andrade M. Martin	Mercedes AMG GT3	8	+22.288 3'56.950	0.019	207.020
31	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	21	F. Heriau S. Mann A. Rovera	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	8	+22.300 3'56.962	0.012	207.010
32	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	78	T. Rompuy H. David J. Hawksworth	Lexus RC F GT3	7	+22.599 3'57.261	0.299	206.749
33	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	54	T. Flohr F. Castellacci D. Rigon	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	9	+22.615 3'57.277	0.016	206.735
34	The Bend Manthey LMGT3	92	Y. Shahin R. Pera R. Lietz	Porsche 911 GT3 R	8	+22.804 3'57.466	0.189	206.571
35	Team Qatar by Iron Lynx LMGT3	62	A. Ali Al-Khelaifi J. Hanses G. Alesi	Mercedes AMG GT3	8	+22.869 3'57.531	0.065	206.514
36	Garage 59 LMGT3	10	A. Au T. Fleming M. Kirchhofer	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	9	+23.000 3'57.662	0.131	206.400
37	TF Sport LMGT3	33	B. Keating J. Edgar N. Catsburg	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	8	+23.062 3'57.724	0.062	206.346
38	IRON LYNX LMGT3	79	J. Zelger M. Cressoni L. Hodenius	Mercedes AMG GT3	7	+23.114 3'57.776	0.052	206.301
39	RICHARD MILLE AF CORSE LMGT3	150	C. Toledo L. Wadoux R. Agostini	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	7	+23.329 3'57.991	0.215	206.115
40	Kessel Racing LMGT3	57	T. Kimura C. Laursen D. Serra	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	9	+23.447 3'58.109	0.118	206.013
41	Racing Spirit of Leman LMGT3	59	C. Mateu M. Fossard V. Hasse-Clot	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	8	+23.733 3'58.395	0.286	205.766
42	Garage 59 LMGT3	58	A. West F. Gehrsitz B. Goethe	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	7	+24.690 3'59.352	0.957	204.943
43	TF Sport LMGT3	2	J. Ibrahim L. Nicolas Hanafin B. Green	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	9	+24.930 3'59.592	0.240	204.738
44	13 Autosport LMGT3	13	O. Fidani L. Kern M. Bell	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	9	+25.596 4'00.258	0.666	204.170
View full results