24h Le Mans
The teams and drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans took to the track at 09:00 for the traditional Test Day. Today, the teams have eight hours of driving time and the opportunity to fine-tune the cars’ settings.
The race favourites are already putting in some top times. In spite of dirty track conditions, Mark Webber in the #1 Porsche 919 Hybrid has clocked the fastest time of 3:22.555. He is followed by André Lotterer in the #7 Audi R18.
André Lotterer: It went quite well. I’m surprised because the track isn’t that bad. It’s early days and we’re trying to ensure that everything is working OK on the car. We have lots of things to try. We are going to test the aero package, improve the car and get a better handle on it.
The German car is followed by the #8 sister car less than half a second behind. The #6 Toyota, #2 Porsche and #5 Toyota follow, with very little between them.
Romain Dumas, #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid: We are trying to tweak the car and get our bearings. It’s rained a lot lately which has made the track rather good. Our aim is to achieve the best set-up and get an “easy” car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I think the day’s best time will be around 3:20.
In the LM P2 field, Roberto Merhi is fastest in the #44 Manor Oreca 05. Merhi has just been named as Manor’s third driver in place of Will Stevens who has switched to G-Drive Racing to take a seat in the #26 Oreca 05 Nissan.
In LM GTE, the #91 Porsche 991 RSR is the fastest in the Pro class and another Porsche, the #78 fielded by KCMG, has clocked the best time in the Am class. The best LM GTE Pro time is already quicker than the 2015 Test Day benchmark!
There are two hours left in this first session, before a one-hour break. The afternoon session will start at 14:00.
Highlights:
09:35 – Slow zone at Dunlop. Debris on the track.
09:58 – #5 Toyota TS 050 Hybrid crossed the gravel trap at Mulsanne. Sébastien Buemi went straight on but was able to set off again.
10:03 – #36 Alpine A460 Nissan (Gustavo Menezes) went straight on at the Dunlop chicane. He was also able to set off again.
10:09 – SRT41’s Frédéric Sausset spun his #84 Morgan at the first Mulsanne Straight chicane but with no adverse consequences. At the same time, Antonio Garcia in the #63 Corvette C7R went straight on at Mulsanne Corner. Slow zone at Mulsanne.
10:28 – Nelson Piquet Jr. (#12 Rebellion) hit 336 km/h.
10:41 – Engine trouble for the #97 Aston Martin. Smoke was reported to be coming from the car as it returned to the pits.
10:55 – François Perrodo (#83 Ferrari) in the gravel trap at the Porsche Curves.
10:56 – Red flag.
