Soon after, Brendon went quicker by setting the best lap of the session, 3min 27.742secs, 0.133secs faster than the second-placed #7 as qualifying preparation concluded. Kamui took advantage of a clear track after the red flag ended to become the first driver this year to lap under 3mins 28secs. On Sunday, six hours of testing kicked off the team’s race preparation programme, which continued through first practice when different mechanical and aerodynamic set-ups were checked alongside the three Michelin tyre compounds available for Le Mans.Ī 35-minute red flag and other incidents within the 62-car field limited the opportunities for quick lap times. He completed 17 laps, more than any of his team-mates in the session, as he reacquainted himself with the Circuit de la Sarthe. Having missed Sunday’s test due to other racing commitments, Sébastien was immediately out on track. Official action at Le Mans began earlier in the afternoon with three hours of first practice. Brendon, who took pole last year, was at the wheel for qualifying and set the fourth quickest time. Last year’s winners Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa will also be in the hunt for pole position on Thursday in their #8 GR010 HYBRID.

His lap of 3mins 25.485secs was just 0.272secs behind the pace-setting #50 Ferrari. Kamui Kobayashi, who can equal Jacky Ickx’s mark of five Le Mans pole positions, comfortably reached Hyperpole, setting the third fastest time in the #7 GR010 HYBRID he shares with Mike Conway and José María López. Both GR010 HYBRIDs qualified for Thursday’s Hyperpole contest, when the fastest eight cars from each class will fight for pole position, to keep hopes of a new record firmly alive. The team is unbeaten in qualifying at La Sarthe since 2017, sharing the record for consecutive poles with Porsche.

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