Le Mans 24 Hours: BMW Tops First Qualifying Session; Toyota Brings out Red Flag

In 2024 Le Mans, Porsche, Ferrari, and Toyota were considered the heavy favourites for provisional pole position, but BMW surprised everyone by taking first place in qualifying.

By Divyam Dubey | on June 13, 2024 Follow us on Autox Google News

The qualifying session for the 24 Hours of Le Mans delivered a surprising twist as BMW emerged as the frontrunner for pole position in the Hypercar class. Dries Vanthoor, driving the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, set a blistering lap time in the final minutes, narrowly surpassing the Cadillac entry that had dominated most of the session. The final minutes were marked by drama when a Toyota driver caused a red flag, disqualifying Toyota's fastest laps. This unexpected incident significantly altered the Hyperpole contenders. With Toyota out of the top qualifying session, the battle for pole position now includes BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, and Alpine, setting the stage for a more diverse competition at the front of the grid on race day.

The red flag had broader repercussions beyond Toyota's disqualification. Other manufacturers, including Lamborghini and Peugeot, also saw their Hyperpole hopes dashed as they failed to meet the qualifying times required to advance. This series of unexpected events promises to make the 24 Hours of Le Mans even more thrilling, with a wider array of contenders potentially competing for victory.

Also Read: This McLaren Road Car Defeated the Purpose-built Le Mans Machines

Pos Team Car Number Time
1 BMW M Team WRT  15  3:24.465
2 Cadillac Racing 3 +0.177
3 Ferrari AF Corse 50 +0.266
4 Alpine Endurance Team 35 +0.407
5 Cadillac Racing 2 +0.528
6 Ferrari AF Corse 51 +0.584
7 Porsche Penske Motorsport 6 +0.586
8 Hertz Team JOTA 12 +0.68

Le Mans 2024: LMP2 Class

In the LMP2 class, reserve driver Malthe Jakobsen, piloting the Cool Racing Oreca, seized pole position. Jakobsen's electrifying lap time left established teams trailing by a full three-tenths of a second. Adding to the shakeup, four of the top qualifiers were not fully professional outfits, highlighting the depth of talent beyond the top teams.

Le Mans Oreca 07 Gibson LMP2

Pos Team Car Number Time
1 Cool Racing 37 03:32.8
2 AO by TF 14 +0.307
3 United Autosports USA 23 +0.603
4 Panis Racing 65 +1.000
5 IDEC Sport 28 +1.388
6 Vector Sport 10 +1.435
7 DKR Engineering 33 +1.503
8 United Autosports 22 +1.653

Le Mans 2024: LMGT3 Class

The inaugural LMGT3 class also delivered high drama. Defying expectations, Ben Barker, driving a Ford Mustang GT3, stormed to the top spot, narrowly edging out a McLaren. In a remarkable display of diversity, the top seven qualifiers came from seven different car manufacturers. Aston Martin demonstrated its prowess by placing two cars in the Hyperpole round, while Lexus and BMW found themselves scrambling to keep up. 

Ford Mustang LMGT3

Pos Team Car Number Time
1 Proton Competition 77 3:55.263
2 Inception Racing 70 +0.143
3 TF Sport 82 +0.842
4 Iron Lynx 60 +0.890
5 Manthey PureRxcing 92 +0.926
6 Heart Of Racing 27 +0.980
7 JMW Motorsport 66 +1.180
8 D’STATION Racing 777 +1.237

Also Read: Le Mans 24 Hours: 5 Most Successful Manufacturers to Race at the Iconic Event

Ferrari faced additional setbacks, with one of their cars unable to participate due to technical issues. This unexpected series of events sets the stage for an incredibly exciting race, with a wide array of contenders vying for glory in the LMGT3 class.

Tags: Le Mans WEC Le Mans 24 Hours

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