In a thrilling qualifying session at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Kévin Estre delivered a stunning performance to claim pole position for Porsche Penske Motorsport ahead of the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Estre, driving the #6 Porsche 963, clocked a blistering lap time of 3:24.634s, narrowly beating out Alex Lynn in the #2 Cadillac V-Series.R by a mere 0.148 seconds.
The session unfolded with intense competition among the Hypercar class contenders. Initially, Sébastien Bourdais in the #3 Cadillac set the pace with a provisional pole lap of 3:24.816s, showcasing the strong form of the Cadillac Racing team. However, Estre’s late push in the Porsche saw him snatch pole position in the closing minutes of qualifying.
Behind the leading pack, Alessandro Pier Guidi secured the fourth position in the #51 Ferrari 499P, positioning Ferrari well for their campaign to defend last year’s victory at Le Mans. The #50 Ferrari driven by Antonio Fuoco completed the top five, ensuring a strong presence for the Prancing Horse on the grid.
In the highly competitive LMP2 category, Louis Deletraz delivered a spectacular effort for AO by TF Sport, clinching pole with a time of 3:33.217s in the ‘Spike’ Oreca Gibson. Job van Uitert of IDEC Sport followed closely in second place, while Matthias Beche secured third for Panis Racing.
Meanwhile, Brendan Iribe made history for McLaren by claiming their first-ever Le Mans pole in the LMGT3 class. Driving for Inception Racing, Iribe posted a pole-winning lap of 3:58.120s in the McLaren LMGT3, highlighting McLaren’s competitiveness in the GT category.
The qualifying session set the stage for an action-packed 24-hour endurance race, where Porsche, Cadillac, Ferrari, McLaren, and other manufacturers will battle fiercely for victory across their respective classes. With pole positions secured, teams and drivers are now gearing up for the challenges ahead at one of motorsport’s most prestigious events.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024 promises thrilling racing and compelling storylines, with spectators eagerly anticipating the spectacle that will unfold over the weekend. Stay tuned for comprehensive coverage and updates as the race weekend unfolds.
Source: FIA
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