There was a tentative start to the free practice session between 16:00 and 20:00 as the track was still wet following several rain showers. The red flag went up 5 minutes into the session after Richard Bradley of KCMG made a braking error at the Forza Motorsport chicane on the Mulsanne Straight. Although his LM P2 Oreca 05 was taken back to the pits, Bradley went on to notch up the best LM P2 time in practice.
Audi, Toyota and Porsche get faster
A few minutes after the green flag, Audi and Toyota got into the swing of things. Just before 18:00, all three Porsches clocked up excellent times with Mark Webber nearing and then bettering the 2014 pole position time with 3:21.362. Webber’s time remained the best in free practice although his teammate Brendon Hartley had already bettered that on Test Day, 31 May with 3:21.062.
Neel Jani sets a record-breaking 3:16.887
The first qualifying session began at 22:00 after a two-hour break. The Porsches were still on top form with Neel Jani and Timo Bernhard banking 3:16.887 and 3:17.667 respectively. Both times better the record set by Stéphane Sarrazin in a Peugeot 908 in 2008. A new record is a superb feat considering the new rules introduced in 2014 to reduce fuel consumption on LM P1 cars by 30% - and shows that performance can still be improved even with such restrictions.
The 56 cars will be back on the track today (Thursday) from 19:00 for two 2-hour qualifying sessions.
The 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours will begin at 15:00 on Saturday 13 June.
PRATICAL INFORMATION
The 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours
83rd running
3rd round of the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship
Dates : 13-14 June 2015
General enclosure ticket price: 56.25 euros (ACO members) 75 euros (non-members).
Free for young people born after 14th June 1999 accompanied by an adult.
Free practice and qualifying: Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th June 2015.
Start of the 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours: Saturday 13th June 2015 at 15:00.
- 24 Heures du Mans
