Le Mans 24h: Toyota spins, goes fastest in FP2

#7 Toyota recovers from an early spin to top the first night-time session of race week

Toyota beat Ferrari to the fastest time in the second practice session for the Le Mans 24 Hours on Wednesday night.

Kamui Kobayashi set a best time of 3m26.096s just seconds after the chequered flag dropped at the Circuit de la Sarthe to put the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid on top by over two-tenths of a second.

The first night session at this year’s Le Mans got off to a chaotic start, with the first 30 minutes featuring limited green-flag running.

Most notably, Kobayashi’s team-mate Nyck de Vries went over the kerbs at the Dunlop chicane and suffered a spin, leaving debris on track and prompting race control to trigger a full-course yellow.

The #44 Proton Oreca stopped on track at around the same time, before a problem for the #22 United Autosports LMP2 led to more double yellow flags around the track.

Amid the early drama, Brendon Hartley set the first sub-3m30s lap of the session in the #8 Toyota, before reigning champion Robert Kubica took over the top spot in AF Corse’s #83 Ferrari 499P.

WTR driver Filipe Albuquerque snatched the lead soon after, but the #83 AF Corse returned to the front at the end of the opening hour after Kubica posted a time of 3m26.316s.

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

Photo by: Rainier Ehrhardt

The FCY was deployed again with 30 minutes to go due to an incident at the second marshal post, before Dries Vanthoor caused another stoppage when he spun the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 at the Esses.

The #7 Toyota remained in the garage for the majority of the session following de Vries’ off, but the Japanese manufacturer sent the car back on the track in the final part of FP2.

In the final five minutes, Kobayashi dispatched the #83 Ferrari from the top with a time of 3m26.329s, before finding another two tenths on his final flyer to pull away at the front.

The #83 Ferrari, which failed to progress into Hyperpole in the evening, had to settle for second place, while the #101 WTR Cadillac held on to third, despite suffering an engine shutdown when Albuquerque rolled into the pitlane at the end of his stint.

Panis fastest in LMP2, BMW leads LMGT3

The #29 Forestier by Panis Oreca 07 led the way in the LMP2 class, courtesy of a 3m33.645s flyer from Louis Rousset.

The Frenchman’s time put him over a second clear of the chasing pack, led by the #4 CrowdStrike by APR Oreca driven by Laurin Heinrich.

AF Corse rounded out the top three, courtesy of a late flyer from Matthieu Vaxiviere.

In LMGT3, Darren Leung put the #32 WRT BMW M4 GT3 at the top of the timesheets in the first hour.

The Brit set a best time of 3m55.132s and ended the session over three tenths ahead of Rui Andrade in the #61 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Richard Lietz propelled Manthey’s #92 Porsche 911 GT3 to third place, leaving the #10 McLaren 720S GT3 of Marvin Kirchhofer in fourth.

FP2

All Stats

Cla	Team	#	Drivers	Car	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	7	M. Conway K. Kobayashi N. de Vries	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	26	3'26.096		238.013
2	AF Corse HYPERCAR	83	Y. Yifei R. Kubica P. Hanson	Ferrari 499P	32	+0.220 3'26.316	0.220	237.759
3	Cadillac WTR HYPERCAR	101	R. Taylor J. Taylor F. Albuquerque	Cadillac V-Series.R	30	+0.291 3'26.387	0.071	237.677
4	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	36	F. Makowiecki J. Gounon V. Martins	Alpine A424	30	+0.321 3'26.417	0.030	237.643
5	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	12	L. Deletraz W. Stevens N. Nato	Cadillac V-Series.R	31	+0.324 3'26.420	0.003	237.639
6	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	19	M. Jaminet P. Chatin D. Juncadella	Genesis GMR-001	30	+0.756 3'26.852	0.432	237.143
7	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	8	S. Buemi B. Hartley R. Hirakawa	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	32	+0.816 3'26.912	0.060	237.074
8	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	007	H. Tincknell T. Gamble R. Gunn	Aston Martin Valkyrie	29	+0.839 3'26.935	0.023	237.048
9	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	20	R. Frijns R. Rast S. Van Der Linde	BMW M Hybrid V8	32	+0.907 3'27.003	0.068	236.970
10	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	15	K. Magnussen R. Marciello D. Vanthoor	BMW M Hybrid V8	27	+1.242 3'27.338	0.335	236.587
11	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	50	A. Fuoco N. Nielsen M. Molina	Ferrari 499P	32	+1.256 3'27.352	0.014	236.571
12	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	009	A. Riberas M. Sorensen R. De Angelis	Aston Martin Valkyrie	31	+1.370 3'27.466	0.114	236.441
13	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	35	A. Felix da Costa C. Milesi F. Habsburg	Alpine A424	29	+1.449 3'27.545	0.079	236.351
14	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	38	S. Bourdais E. Bamber J. Aitken	Cadillac V-Series.R	26	+1.613 3'27.709	0.164	236.165
15	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	93	P. di Resta S. Vandoorne N. Cassidy	Peugeot 9X8	30	+1.735 3'27.831	0.122	236.026
16	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	51	A. Pier Guidi J. Calado A. Giovinazzi	Ferrari 499P	31	+1.807 3'27.903	0.072	235.944
17	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	17	A. Lotterer P. Derani M. Jaubert	Genesis GMR-001	29	+1.976 3'28.072	0.169	235.753
18	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	94	L. Duval M. Jakobsen T. Pourchaire	Peugeot 9X8	31	+2.377 3'28.473	0.401	235.299
19	Forestier Racing by Panis LMP2	29	L. Rousset E. Masson O. Gray	Oreca 07 - Gibson	29	+7.549 3'33.645	5.172	229.603
20	Crowdstrike Racing by APR LMP2	4	G. Kurtz A. Quinn L. Heinrich	Oreca 07 - Gibson	31	+8.869 3'34.965	1.320	228.193
21	AF Corse LMP2	183	F. Perrodo M. Vaxiviere B. Barnicoat	Oreca 07 - Gibson	30	+9.669 3'35.765	0.800	227.347
22	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	43	J. Smiechowski T. Dillmann N. Yelloly	Oreca 07 - Gibson	26	+10.015 3'36.111	0.346	226.983
23	Proton Competition LMP2	9	J. Ried K. Ohta H. King	Oreca 07 - Gibson	28	+10.176 3'36.272	0.161	226.814
24	IDEC SPORT LMP2	28	P. Lafargue V. Rinicella J. Van Uitert	Oreca 07 - Gibson	28	+10.220 3'36.316	0.044	226.768
25	TDS Racing LMP2	14	T. Lutke M. Beche K. Estre	Oreca 07 - Gibson	29	+10.261 3'36.357	0.041	226.725
26	DUQUEINE TEAM LMP2	30	D. Pin J. Andlauer R. Verschoor	Oreca 07 - Gibson	26	+10.545 3'36.641	0.284	226.428
27	CLX Motorsport LMP2	37	A. Closmenil I. Aguilera T. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	28	+10.602 3'36.698	0.057	226.368
28	NIELSEN RACING LMP2	24	D. Heinemeier Hansson E. Pearson J. Doohan	Oreca 07 - Gibson	29	+10.866 3'36.962	0.264	226.093
29	United Autosports LMP2	222	D. Schneider B. Hanley O. Jarvis	Oreca 07 - Gibson	27	+11.161 3'37.257	0.295	225.786
30	AO by TF LMP2	99	P. Hyett J. Allen D. Cameron	Oreca 07 - Gibson	27	+11.194 3'37.290	0.033	225.751
31	Algarve Pro Racing Team LMP2	25	M. Jensen E. Trulli J. Hughes	Oreca 07 - Gibson	29	+11.381 3'37.477	0.187	225.557
32	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	343	B. Garg R. de Gerus N. Müller	Oreca 07 - Gibson	28	+11.416 3'37.512	0.035	225.521
33	DKR Engineering LMP2	3	J. Farano S. Alvarez R. van der Zande	Oreca 07 - Gibson	26	+12.147 3'38.243	0.731	224.765
34	RD Limited LMP2	48	F. Poordad T. Vautier R. Dumas	Oreca 07 - Gibson	30	+12.427 3'38.523	0.280	224.477
35	Proton Competition LMP2	44	H. Felbermayr Jr. H. Felbermayr L. Fluxá	Oreca 07 - Gibson	28	+12.875 3'38.971	0.448	224.018
36	VECTOR SPORT LMP2	26	R. Cullen V. Lomko P. Fittipaldi	Oreca 07 - Gibson	30	+13.270 3'39.366	0.395	223.615
37	United Autosports LMP2	22	R. Lindh G. Saucy M. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	11	+16.325 3'42.421	3.055	220.543
38	TEAM WRT LMGT3	32	D. Leung S. Gelael A. Farfus	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	27	+29.036 3'55.132	12.711	208.621
39	IRON LYNX LMGT3	61	M. Berry R. Andrade M. Martin	Mercedes AMG GT3	25	+29.392 3'55.488	0.356	208.306
40	The Bend Manthey LMGT3	92	Y. Shahin R. Pera R. Lietz	Porsche 911 GT3 R	26	+29.436 3'55.532	0.044	208.267
41	Garage 59 LMGT3	10	A. Au T. Fleming M. Kirchhofer	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	23	+29.475 3'55.571	0.039	208.232
42	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	21	F. Heriau S. Mann A. Rovera	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	27	+29.487 3'55.583	0.012	208.222
43	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	23	G. Newell D. Barrichello J. Adam	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	28	+29.633 3'55.729	0.146	208.093
44	Manthey DK Engineering LMGT3	91	J. Cottingham T. Boguslavskiy A. Güven	Porsche 911 GT3 R	26	+29.681 3'55.777	0.048	208.050
45	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	54	T. Flohr F. Castellacci D. Rigon	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	28	+29.719 3'55.815	0.038	208.017
46	IRON LYNX LMGT3	79	J. Zelger M. Cressoni L. Hodenius	Mercedes AMG GT3	25	+29.742 3'55.838	0.023	207.997
47	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	78	T. Rompuy H. David J. Hawksworth	Lexus RC F GT3	23	+29.877 3'55.973	0.135	207.878
48	TF Sport LMGT3	33	B. Keating J. Edgar N. Catsburg	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	27	+30.100 3'56.196	0.223	207.681
49	Kessel Racing LMGT3	57	T. Kimura C. Laursen D. Serra	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	26	+30.229 3'56.325	0.129	207.568
50	Racing Spirit of Leman LMGT3	59	C. Mateu M. Fossard V. Hasse-Clot	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	28	+30.285 3'56.381	0.056	207.519
51	Racing Team Turkey by TF LMGT3	34	P. Dempsey S. Yoluc C. Eastwood	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	25	+30.361 3'56.457	0.076	207.452
52	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	27	I. James Z. Robichon M. Drudi	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	28	+30.391 3'56.487	0.030	207.426
53	TEAM WRT LMGT3	69	A. McIntosh P. Thompson D. Harper	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	28	+30.496 3'56.592	0.105	207.334
54	RICHARD MILLE AF CORSE LMGT3	150	C. Toledo L. Wadoux R. Agostini	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	28	+30.512 3'56.608	0.016	207.320
55	Kessel Racing LMGT3	74	D. Blattner L. Patrese D. Marschall	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	28	+30.665 3'56.761	0.153	207.186
56	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	87	R. Umbrarescu C. Schmid J. Lopez	Lexus RC F GT3	25	+30.670 3'56.766	0.005	207.181
57	13 Autosport LMGT3	13	O. Fidani L. Kern M. Bell	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	26	+30.671 3'56.767	0.001	207.180
58	Proton Competition LMGT3	88	S. Gattuso G. Levorato L. Sargeant	Ford Mustang GT3	26	+31.312 3'57.408	0.641	206.621
59	Proton Competition LMGT3	77	E. Powell B. Tuck S. Priaulx	Ford Mustang GT3	28	+31.460 3'57.556	0.148	206.492
60	TF Sport LMGT3	2	J. Ibrahim L. Nicolas Hanafin B. Green	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	26	+31.758 3'57.854	0.298	206.234
61	Team Qatar by Iron Lynx LMGT3	62	A. Ali Al-Khelaifi J. Hanses G. Alesi	Mercedes AMG GT3	23	+31.821 3'57.917	0.063	206.179
62	Garage 59 LMGT3	58	A. West F. Gehrsitz B. Goethe	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	27	+32.244 3'58.340	0.423	205.813
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