Cadillac has claimed its first-ever pole position in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) after a stunning performance in the Hyperpole session ahead of the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji. British driver Alex Lynn delivered an electrifying lap of 1:28.901 seconds, securing the top spot and leaving fans in awe. The achievement marks Cadillac’s inaugural pole position in the highly competitive Hypercar class, setting the stage for a fierce battle in the penultimate round of the 2024 season.
Lynn Edges Out Toyota in Dramatic Finish
Lynn’s breathtaking lap narrowly edged out local favorite Ryō Hirakawa, who piloted the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010 Hybrid, falling just 0.041 seconds short of the pole. Hirakawa’s effort was strong but not quite enough to overcome Cadillac’s pace. Dries Vanthoor, in the #15 BMW M Team WRT entry, completed the top three with a solid lap of 1:29.065 seconds.
Kamui Kobayashi in the #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing car secured fourth on the grid, joining the BMW on the second row. Championship leaders Porsche Penske finished fifth in the session with Kévin Estre behind the wheel of the #6 Porsche. Charles Milesi, piloting the #35 Alpine, rounded out the top six, showcasing competitive speed for Les Bleues.
Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Proton Complete Top Ten
In a highly competitive Hypercar field, the #50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P took seventh place, followed closely by the #5 Porsche Penske in eighth. Daniil Kvyat, representing Lamborghini, delivered a standout performance in the #63 Lamborghini Iron Lynx SC63, securing ninth place for the team in their first-ever Hyperpole appearance. Rounding out the top ten was Julien Andlauer in the #99 Proton Competition Porsche 963, putting in a strong showing for the independent team.
Ferrari Dominates LMGT3 Pole
In the LMGT3 class, François Hériau claimed his first pole position of the season for the #55 VISTA AF Corse Ferrari with a lap time of 1:40.893 seconds. Hériau narrowly beat Tom van Rompuy, who drove the #81 TF Sport Corvette, by a slim margin of 0.082 seconds. The #95 United Autosports McLaren, piloted by Joshua Caygill, secured third place, rounding out a fiercely competitive front row.
Sarah Bovy in the Iron Dames Lamborghini managed to claim fourth on the grid, followed by James Cottingham in the #59 United Autosports McLaren, marking the team’s best qualifying result of the season.
Anticipation Builds for the 6 Hours of Fuji
With Cadillac taking its first-ever pole position and a highly competitive field in both the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes, the 6 Hours of Fuji promises to be an exhilarating race. Fans can expect intense battles across the grid as teams prepare for one of the final showdowns of the 2024 season.
Source: FIA
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