24h Le Mans
To achieve the fastest lap time possible in the Hyperpole session, the competitors make some specific adjustments to their cars. Pascal Vasselon, technical director at Toyota Gazoo Racing, and Thomas Tribotté, Hypercar operating engineer at Alpine Elf Team, tell us more.
At 20:00, the 23 cars qualified for Hyperpole will take to the track in a test of sheer speed. The drivers appointed by the teams will aim to clock the fastest possible lap and secure pole position in their respective classes. For the manufacturers competing, pole is a matter of prestige as Pascal Vasselon, technical director at Toyota Gazoo Racing explains: “Taking pole position is not a priority, but we know that it has an impact with the fans and the media. We’re also competitors at heart, so of course we’re proud to start from pole in an iconic race like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Which is why we take Hyperpole very seriously and we use the practice sessions to do a few preparatory runs.”
For this key phase in the proceedings, the cars are tuned for peak performance. “We seek the optimum parameters for each setting,” explains Thomas Tribotté, Hypercar operating engineer with Alpine Elf Team. “The ride height and amount of fuel are kept to the minimum. The car’s balance is also adjusted.” The weight and grip of the car are different than in a regular race stint. As a result, adjustments also need to be made to the overall configuration. However, there is less scope for changes to the mechanical and aerodynamic parameters in a Hypercar than there was in an LMP1.
To achieve peak speed, you would expect the teams to push their engines at full power. But there are two schools of thought. At Toyota Gazoo Racing, Vasselon says that “when we combine the power of our engine and our hybrid system, we have a maximum potential of almost 1,000 horsepower. However, the regulations only permit a maximum 677 horsepower at any one time. That means that boosting engine power for a qualifying lap is a thing of the past. We’re all out, at full power all the time.” There is a different approach at Alpine. “We don't unleash the engine’s full power. We’re quite conservative because we’re working with the race in mind,” adds Tribotté.
In addition, for Hyperpole the cars are fitted with soft tyres, which ensure greater speed but only last a few laps.
Is Hyperpole the most enjoyable session for the engineers? Tribotté anwsers: “It’s pretty unique. Even though the race remains our priority, we get drawn into the whole thing!”
