Le Mans 24 Hours Preview

With the vast majority of the world’s media concentration on the World Cup, it’s easy to forget that this weekend sees the greatest motor race in the world taking place in central France. The legendary Le Mans 24 Hours takes place this weekend, with 56 cars in four classes aiming for victory in the famous race.

With qualifying having taken place earlier this week, it seems that Toyota have carried their advantage from the opening two WEC rounds into Le Mans, with the #7 car taking pole position on Thursday night with a time of 3:21.789. The sister #8 car starts third, with a time only eight-tenths of a second away from their team mates.

Splitting the Japanese LMP1 cars is the leading Porsche of Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb and Neel Jani. The 919 Hybrid’s low downforce aerodynamic package is finally coming into its own on the fast French circuit, with the #14 Porsche only a couple of tenths shy of the leading Toyota. The #20 car starts fourth, with both Porsche and Toyota seeming to have a useful pace advantage over Audi.

Audi have endured a truly torrid build up to the Le Mans race. The #1 car was destroyed in free practice on Wednesday afternoon, when Loic Duval suffered a monumental accident at the Porsche Curves. The Frenchman was taken to hospital, and despite escaping with no more than cuts and bruises, has been ruled out of the race. Audi have drafted in reserve driver Marc Gene to stand in the rebuilt #1 car, and the crew have qualified 7th, last of the factory LMP1 cars. The #3 Audi starts fifth, over a second from pole, with the sister #2 car starting right behind in sixth place. Audi will have to hope that superior strategy can help them to the top step of the podium on Sunday afternoon, as so far they do not have the outright pace to challenge Toyota or Porsche for the win.

The two Rebellion R-One privateer LMP1 cars line up eighth and ninth for their private battle, but they will need serious attrition among the factory teams to get anywhere near the podium places.

In LMP2, the brand new Ligier JS P2 car has taken pole position on its debut for the Thiriet by TDS Racing team, just ahead of the #38 Jota Sport Zytek. LMP2 could provide the best racing in the field, with a bumper grid of prototypes all crewed by Pro-Am driver lineups.

In GTE Pro, AF Corse Ferrari’s have taken pole position with their #51 car, ahead of the factory Corvette, Porsche and Aston Martin squads. Sam Bird produced a stellar lap to take pole in GTE AM for AF Corse, qualifying second overall in the GT field.

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