24 Hours of Le Mans: Test day - Hypercars

WECHyperCarIMSA

Jun 4

Most of the drivers improved their lap time during the afternoon session. The ranking of the test day is not significant for the 24 Hours of Le Mans as manufacturers of the 16-entry Hypercar field work on a set-up baseline in preparation for qualifying practice on June 7. The top eight cars per class will participate in the 60-minute Hyperpole qualifications on June 8.

Ferrari led both sessions and Porsche has its three factory cars in the top 6. The 5 top manufacturers have at least one car in the top 8.

Ferrari dominates both sessions

Ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans centenary, Antonio Giovinazzi with the #51 Ferrari 499P set the fastest lap of the day during the second practice session, in 3'29''504.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. Ferrari 499P #51.

Five drivers were able to lap in less than 3 minutes 30 seconds:

Laurens Vanthoor at the wheel of the #6 Porsche 963 set the second fastest lap time of the entire 24 Hours of Le Mans test day in 3:29.648 minutes.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. #6 Porsche 963.

Kamui Kobayashi, in the #7 GR010 HYBRID, recorded the third quickest lap time overall, 3 mins 29.827 secs. That was 0.323 secs behind the pace-setting #51 Ferrari.
A new, modified livery on the GR010 HYBRIDs made its track debut today. Cherry blossom flowers and buds have been added to emphasize the team’s Japanese DNA and symbolize the advanced technology which continues to be nurtured at Le Mans as part of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s commitment to sustainability and making ever-better motorsports-bred cars. Source: Toyota Gazoo Racing

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid.

At the end of the morning session, with Mike Conway at the wheel, the #7 car made contact with the barriers at Tertre Rouge, sustaining damage to the front and rear. Conway had earlier set the #7 car’s quickest time of the session, which was enough for a fifth place.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. Mike Conway at Tertre Rouge with #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid.

Thanks to efficient work from the mechanics, new front and rear bodywork was fitted to the #7 in time for José-Maria Lopez to drive immediately at the start of the afternoon session, with no track time lost thanks to a strong team effort.

Two Ferrari 499P in the top 4

After setting the fastest lap of the morning session, Antonio Fuoco with #50 Ferrari 499P set the fourth fastest lap of the day during the afternoon session.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. Ferrari 499P #50

After a very long pit stop (1h 52'34), with 37’ left, Porsche #75 left the pits with Felipe Nasr at the controls. It only completed 9 laps in this second session, but Nasr managed to produce the fifth and last fastest lap under 3:30’.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. Porsche 963 #75

Jonathan Diuguid, Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport, says: "We have a third car on the grid here in addition to our two cars from the FIA WEC. The effort is enormous. Our #75 was in the pits for some time to have a component replaced but, overall, we still completed a lot of laps. It was a productive day in which we gained important knowledge, especially in the afternoon with its higher temperatures."

Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #75): “Unfortunately, an issue with the braking system cost us some time. We found a solution and ended up with good lap times. For me as a driver, it was a great feeling to be back at Le Mans and behind the wheel of the Porsche 963. It really is a unique experience to drive such a car on this great track. We may not have been able to complete our entire program with our starting #75, but we're still satisfied with the day.” Source: Porsche

Three factory Porsche 963 in the top six.

Frédéric Makowiecki set the seventh fastest lap of the day putting his #5 Porsche 963 in P6 as two Ferrari #51 drivers are in the top 6 ranking per driver.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. Porsche 963 #5

It was 17:24 when the 9X8 #93 had just completed its first lap of the afternoon, under safety car conditions, with Mikkel Jensen at the controls after stopping during the first session for an electrical incident. Jensen set its best time in 3:30.427 which puts the Peugeot 9X8 #93 in P7.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. Peugeot 9X8 #93.

Mikkel Jensen – PEUGEOT #93: « It’s great to be back at Le Mans, it’s something I have been waiting for, for three years. It’s the best track and atmosphere in the world of racing. We just enjoy being here, for us and the car it’s the first time we drive on such a track whereas some teams have the advantage of having done it last year, so we just have to keep working. It was good to get the first laps in and we still have some time to get ready before the race.” Source: Peugeot Sport

Earl Bamber was tenth fastest of both test sessions with the #2 Cadillac V-Series.R. As two Ferrari #51 drivers and two Porsche #75 drivers were faster, the #2 Cadillac Racing is eighth overall.

📷 © Luc Warnotte during test day at Le Mans. Cadillac V-Series.R #2

Earl Bamber, #2 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R: “There was lots of learning across all three cars and Cadillac Racing. I thought we got through the test items really well and now it’s a matter of combining all the information that we have learned from the 311, the 3 and the 2, and see what we can bring later this week. The competition is tight and looks strong. We have some homework and hopefully, we’ll be right up there.”