Mc Laren and Porsche on LMGT3 first row

WECLMGT3

Jun 14

As for almost each session so far, in LMGT3, the #70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo did dominate Thursday’s 30-minute Hyperpole, which sets the top eight positions in each of the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans’ three classes. For this session, Bob Akin Trophy winner (IMSA 2023 GTD winner) Brendan Iribe was on the wheel setting a fastest lap of 3:58.120, beating the #92 Manthey PureRxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R by 0.808 seconds.

#70 Inception Racing McLaren on pole

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Mans Hyperpole 2024.

The #70 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 Evo will start on class pole.

FIA Endurance Trophy leading Porsche also in front row

The Manthey PureRxcing squad achieved a top result in the LMGT3 class with Alex Malykhin securing the second grid spot at the wheel of the #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R. The UK driver shares the cockpit with former Porsche Junior Klaus Bachler and Joel Sturm. They are leading the FIA Endurance Trophy LMGT3 Teams and Drivers so far.

Alex Malykhin (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): “The car felt great in the Hyperpole. It was a real pleasure to drive the Porsche 911 GT3 R – our team did a first-class job. We were still a little dissatisfied in the first practice sessions, but we’ve taken a very important step. Now, we’re starting the race from the front row of the LMGT3 class. That allows us to avoid the mad scramble of cars in the midfield at the start of the race.” Source: Porsche

Third place for JMW Motorpsort’s Ferrari 296 LMGT3

#66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari 296 LMGT3, driven on the track by bronze driver Giacomo Petrobelli, will occupy third place on the grid.

Giacomo Petrobelli: « To start third at Le Mans gives me great satisfaction; the time could have been even better but it's fine like this. I am at my debut with the Ferrari 296 LMGT3 and I am really satisfied, I found a very good feeling. We also worked on the race pace, so hopefully we can do well on Saturday. » Source: Ferrari

Ford Mustang in second row

After Ben Barker did set the fastest class qualifying lap with #77 Proton Competition For Mustang LMGT3, Bronze driver Ryan Hardwick ended fourth the Hyperpole session. Z. Robichon will also drive the #77 Ford Mustang.

RYAN HARDWICK, #77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 – “That’s the best lap I’ve ever done around here, and it was only five-tenths from second [place] which is very close. The car was such a joy to drive, and it's been the best it’s been all week. I just can’t thank our team enough – all the people at Ford Performance, Proton Competition and Multimatic Motorsports. They’ve been working tirelessly on this car since its inception. It’s really nice that it all came together here in Hyperpole. I would have liked to have the car on the front row, but regardless, I’m just really proud of my lap there at the end. I think we have an unbelievably good race car, and I really like our chances of being really competitive in the 24-hour race.” Source: Ford

Both Aston Martin in third row

The two Aston Martins will form the third row, the #27 Heart of Racing car of Ian James three seconds clear of the #777 D’Station Vantage’s time by Satoshi Hoshino

Ian James completed the top five in the #27 The Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo

Chevrolet Corvette in fourth row

TF Sport’s #82 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R will start from the fourth row of the LMGT3 field Saturday for the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the debut appearance at the French endurance classic for the GT3-spec Corvette.
Hiroshi Koizumi piloted the Corvette in 4:03.681 (5.561 off class Benchmark) which was his fastest of the weekend. He will drive with Sebastien Baud and Corvette factory driver Daniel Juncadella, whose lap in Wednesday’s qualifying secured a spot in Hyperpole.