Le Mans 24h: Cadillac dominates FP1 with rivals 1.7s down

Cadillac went fastest in Free Practice 1 ahead of the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours, comfortably leading BMW, Alpine, Toyota and Ferrari in the Hypercar classification.

After Aston Martin topped the Test Day in 3m26.293s on Sunday, Cadillac’s Jordan Taylor was the first driver to improve on that reference on Wednesday. Less than half an hour into the session, Taylor set a 3m25.348s with the #101 Wayne Taylor Racing entry he shares with brother Ricky and Filipe Albuquerque.

It took over two hours for anyone to match – and beat – that benchmark, as Earl Bamber drove the sister Jota-run #38 Cadillac to a 3m25.673s, before recording a 3m24.773s. He subsequently went even quicker with a 3m23.786s.

Only BMW lapped within two seconds of the lead car, with Rene Rast (#20) achieving a 3m25.533s at the end of the session – preventing a Cadillac 1-2-3 as Will Stevens lapped in 3m26.033s after the #12 machine encountered a brake pedal problem.

Ferdinand Habsburg brought the #35 Alpine up to fifth in 3m26.078s, more than 0.4s faster than the #8 Toyota (one of two cars not to improve relative to the Test Day, with the #007 Aston Martin), the #50 Ferrari, the #009 Aston Martin and the #17 Genesis.

Peugeot was slowest of all, with a 3.2s deficit to Cadillac, 0.9s to Alpine and 0.4s to Genesis.

#83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Yifei Ye, Robert Kubica, Philip Hanson

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The main incidents from the session involved Hypercars. Ye Yifei lost control of Ferrari’s #83 car approaching Mulsanne corner and crashed. The Chinese driver made his way back to the pits, seemingly suffering little damage.

Moments later, veteran Frederic Makowiecki went wide on the approach to Tertre Rouge and substantially hit the outside wall on the left-hand side, with the #36 Alpine crabbing along before stopping trackside.

Doriane Pin fastest in LMP2

There was more action in the LMP2 category, with the #37 CLX Motorsport, #4 APR, #9 Proton and #183 AF Corse entries going off in the first sector, courtesy of Mikkel Jenson, George Kurtz, Harry King and Ben Barnicoat respectively, while the #14 TDS and #99 AO by TF entries had similar shenanigans at Raccordement with Tobias Luetke and PJ Hyett.

Mercedes Formula 1 junior Doriane Pin was fastest by far in LMP2, setting a 3m35.248s in the #30 Duqueine car, outpacing the #14 TDS entry by seven tenths, while IDEC Sport’s #28 car was nearly a full second off.

The GT3 class was as competitive as usual, with Akkodis ASP’s #78 Lexus narrowly edging both Team WRT BMWs, Iron Lynx’ #62 Mercedes and TF’s #34 Corvette – these four manufacturers lapped within 0.41s of one another on the 13.626km track. 

Le Mans 24 Hours - Free Practice 1 results

FP1

All Stats

 

Cla	Team	#	Drivers	Car	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	38	S. Bourdais E. Bamber J. Aitken	Cadillac V-Series.R	41	3'23.786		240.711
2	Cadillac WTR HYPERCAR	101	R. Taylor J. Taylor F. Albuquerque	Cadillac V-Series.R	38	+1.562 3'25.348	1.562	238.880
3	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	20	R. Frijns R. Rast S. Van Der Linde	BMW M Hybrid V8	36	+1.747 3'25.533	0.185	238.665
4	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	12	L. Deletraz W. Stevens N. Nato	Cadillac V-Series.R	27	+2.247 3'26.033	0.500	238.086
5	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	35	A. Felix da Costa C. Milesi F. Habsburg	Alpine A424	35	+2.292 3'26.078	0.045	238.034
6	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	8	S. Buemi B. Hartley R. Hirakawa	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	44	+2.705 3'26.491	0.413	237.558
7	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	50	A. Fuoco N. Nielsen M. Molina	Ferrari 499P	45	+2.708 3'26.494	0.003	237.554
8	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	009	A. Riberas M. Sorensen R. De Angelis	Aston Martin Valkyrie	45	+2.790 3'26.576	0.082	237.460
9	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	17	A. Lotterer P. Derani M. Jaubert	Genesis GMR-001	34	+2.817 3'26.603	0.027	237.429
10	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	007	H. Tincknell T. Gamble R. Gunn	Aston Martin Valkyrie	34	+2.919 3'26.705	0.102	237.312
11	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	7	M. Conway K. Kobayashi N. de Vries	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	42	+2.814 3'26.600		237.432
12	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	36	F. Makowiecki J. Gounon V. Martins	Alpine A424	39	+3.452 3'27.238	0.638	236.701
13	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	19	M. Jaminet P. Chatin D. Juncadella	Genesis GMR-001	37	+3.036 3'26.822		237.177
14	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	15	K. Magnussen R. Marciello D. Vanthoor	BMW M Hybrid V8	46	+3.059 3'26.845	0.023	237.151
15	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	51	A. Pier Guidi J. Calado A. Giovinazzi	Ferrari 499P	44	+3.150 3'26.936	0.091	237.047
16	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	93	P. di Resta S. Vandoorne N. Cassidy	Peugeot 9X8	41	+5.139 3'28.925	1.989	234.790
17	AF Corse HYPERCAR	83	Y. Yifei R. Kubica P. Hanson	Ferrari 499P	37	+3.540 3'27.326		236.601
18	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	94	L. Duval M. Jakobsen T. Pourchaire	Peugeot 9X8	42	+3.561 3'27.347	0.021	236.577
19	DUQUEINE TEAM LMP2	30	D. Pin J. Andlauer R. Verschoor	Oreca 07 - Gibson	34	+11.462 3'35.248	7.901	227.893
20	TDS Racing LMP2	14	T. Lutke M. Beche K. Estre	Oreca 07 - Gibson	43	+12.172 3'35.958	0.710	227.144
21	IDEC SPORT LMP2	28	P. Lafargue V. Rinicella J. Van Uitert	Oreca 07 - Gibson	38	+11.651 3'35.437		227.693
22	AO by TF LMP2	99	P. Hyett J. Allen D. Cameron	Oreca 07 - Gibson	42	+12.438 3'36.224	0.787	226.864
23	United Autosports LMP2	22	R. Lindh G. Saucy M. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	32	+12.592 3'36.378	0.154	226.703
24	AF Corse LMP2	183	F. Perrodo M. Vaxiviere B. Barnicoat	Oreca 07 - Gibson	41	+14.290 3'38.076	1.698	224.938
25	Crowdstrike Racing by APR LMP2	4	G. Kurtz A. Quinn L. Heinrich	Oreca 07 - Gibson	41	+12.617 3'36.403		226.677
26	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	43	J. Smiechowski T. Dillmann N. Yelloly	Oreca 07 - Gibson	42	+12.620 3'36.406	0.003	226.673
27	Forestier Racing by Panis LMP2	29	L. Rousset E. Masson O. Gray	Oreca 07 - Gibson	43	+12.852 3'36.638	0.232	226.431
28	Algarve Pro Racing Team LMP2	25	M. Jensen E. Trulli J. Hughes	Oreca 07 - Gibson	43	+13.110 3'36.896	0.258	226.161
29	VECTOR SPORT LMP2	26	R. Cullen V. Lomko P. Fittipaldi	Oreca 07 - Gibson	42	+13.350 3'37.136	0.240	225.911
30	NIELSEN RACING LMP2	24	D. Heinemeier Hansson E. Pearson J. Doohan	Oreca 07 - Gibson	39	+13.560 3'37.346	0.210	225.693
31	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	343	B. Garg R. de Gerus N. Müller	Oreca 07 - Gibson	38	+13.481 3'37.267		225.775
32	RD Limited LMP2	48	F. Poordad T. Vautier R. Dumas	Oreca 07 - Gibson	42	+14.009 3'37.795	0.528	225.228
33	CLX Motorsport LMP2	37	A. Closmenil I. Aguilera T. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	38	+14.026 3'37.812	0.017	225.210
34	DKR Engineering LMP2	3	J. Farano S. Alvarez R. van der Zande	Oreca 07 - Gibson	36	+14.530 3'38.316	0.504	224.690
35	United Autosports LMP2	222	D. Schneider B. Hanley O. Jarvis	Oreca 07 - Gibson	41	+14.758 3'38.544	0.228	224.456
36	Proton Competition LMP2	44	H. Felbermayr Jr. H. Felbermayr L. Fluxá	Oreca 07 - Gibson	40	+15.048 3'38.834	0.290	224.158
37	Proton Competition LMP2	9	J. Ried K. Ohta H. King	Oreca 07 - Gibson	10	+45.936 4'09.722	30.888	196.432
38	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	78	T. Rompuy H. David J. Hawksworth	Lexus RC F GT3	30	+31.951 3'55.737		208.086
39	TEAM WRT LMGT3	32	D. Leung S. Gelael A. Farfus	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	41	+32.051 3'55.837	0.100	207.997
40	TEAM WRT LMGT3	69	A. McIntosh P. Thompson D. Harper	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	38	+32.052 3'55.838	0.001	207.997
41	Team Qatar by Iron Lynx LMGT3	62	A. Ali Al-Khelaifi J. Hanses G. Alesi	Mercedes AMG GT3	17	+32.118 3'55.904	0.066	207.938
42	Racing Team Turkey by TF LMGT3	34	P. Dempsey S. Yoluc C. Eastwood	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	39	+32.361 3'56.147	0.243	207.724
43	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	87	R. Umbrarescu C. Schmid J. Lopez	Lexus RC F GT3	36	+32.396 3'56.182	0.035	207.694
44	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	27	I. James Z. Robichon M. Drudi	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	37	+32.429 3'56.215	0.033	207.665
45	TF Sport LMGT3	33	B. Keating J. Edgar N. Catsburg	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	42	+32.525 3'56.311	0.096	207.580
46	IRON LYNX LMGT3	61	M. Berry R. Andrade M. Martin	Mercedes AMG GT3	41	+32.694 3'56.480	0.169	207.432
47	The Bend Manthey LMGT3	92	Y. Shahin R. Pera R. Lietz	Porsche 911 GT3 R	43	+32.710 3'56.496	0.016	207.418
48	Garage 59 LMGT3	58	A. West F. Gehrsitz B. Goethe	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	38	+32.782 3'56.568	0.072	207.355
49	Kessel Racing LMGT3	57	T. Kimura C. Laursen D. Serra	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	41	+32.794 3'56.580	0.012	207.344
50	Garage 59 LMGT3	10	A. Au T. Fleming M. Kirchhofer	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	39	+33.034 3'56.820	0.240	207.134
51	Manthey DK Engineering LMGT3	91	J. Cottingham T. Boguslavskiy A. Güven	Porsche 911 GT3 R	42	+33.063 3'56.849	0.029	207.109
52	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	21	F. Heriau S. Mann A. Rovera	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	38	+33.231 3'57.017	0.168	206.962
53	TF Sport LMGT3	2	J. Ibrahim L. Nicolas Hanafin B. Green	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	37	+33.255 3'57.041	0.024	206.941
54	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	54	T. Flohr F. Castellacci D. Rigon	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	42	+33.315 3'57.101	0.060	206.889
55	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	23	G. Newell D. Barrichello J. Adam	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	35	+33.377 3'57.163	0.062	206.834
56	Kessel Racing LMGT3	74	D. Blattner L. Patrese D. Marschall	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	40	+33.445 3'57.231	0.068	206.775
57	Proton Competition LMGT3	88	S. Gattuso G. Levorato L. Sargeant	Ford Mustang GT3	31	+33.943 3'57.729	0.498	206.342
58	RICHARD MILLE AF CORSE LMGT3	150	C. Toledo L. Wadoux R. Agostini	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	38	+33.585 3'57.371		206.653
59	IRON LYNX LMGT3	79	J. Zelger M. Cressoni L. Hodenius	Mercedes AMG GT3	39	+33.597 3'57.383	0.012	206.643
60	Proton Competition LMGT3	77	E. Powell B. Tuck S. Priaulx	Ford Mustang GT3	40	+33.666 3'57.452	0.069	206.583
61	13 Autosport LMGT3	13	O. Fidani L. Kern M. Bell	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	36	+34.120 3'57.906	0.454	206.188
62	Racing Spirit of Leman LMGT3	59	C. Mateu M. Fossard V. Hasse-Clot	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	36	+34.329 3'58.115	0.209	206.008
View full results