24h Le Mans
Ferrari AF Corse's #50 Ferrari 499P will start from P1 on the starting grid at tomorrow's TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, third round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship. The Iron Dames team's Lamborghini nabbed the top spot in the LMGT3 category driven by a female racer in her home country.
The TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is a crucial step in team preparations for the 24 Hours of Le Mans (12-16 June). Team principal and #7 driver Kamui Kobayashi: To be quick at Le Mans and Spa, you need some of the same characteristics in terms of car balance and set-up, so everything we learn next week will help us in June. Every Hypercar and LMGT3 performance will be heavily scrutinised throughout the weekend in Belgium.
This afternoon, competitors took part in qualifying, then the Hyperpole, in ideal sunny weather in the Belgian Ardennes.
By the end of the Hyperpole, Ferrari AF Corse's #50 Ferrari 499P driven by Antonio Fuoco had clocked the fastest time ahead of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, followed by Porsche Penske Motorsport (#5 and #6 Porsches), Cadillac Racing (#2 Cadillac V-Series.R), Hertz Team JOTA (#12 Porsche), BMW M Team WRT (#20 BMW M Hybrid V8), Alpine Endurance Team (#35 Alpine A424), AF Corse (#83 Ferrari 499P) and Proton Competition (#99 Porsche 963).
Drivers get two laps to warm up their tyres in the Hyperpole. Matt Campbell first placed the #5 Porsche 963 in pole position with a time of 2:03.107. Then Fuoco in the #50 Ferrari snatched the top spot in 2:02.600. Alex Lynn slipped Cadillac Racing's #2 Cadillac V-Series.R in P3 ahead of Proton Competition's #99 Porsche 963 and Hertz Team JOTA's #12 Porsche.
Antonio Fuoco: Proper tyre preparation was the key to success in this Hyperpole. Tomorrow, we'll be in a good position at the start of the race, but it's long. We intend to give it our all. I have felt confident at the wheel of the 499P since last season. It's comfortable to drive and we do everything we can to get ready for each race during the free practice.
1. #50 Ferrari 499P #50 – Ferrari AF Corse – 2:02.600
2. #5 Porsche 963 #5 – Porsche Penske Motorsport – 2:03.107
3. #2 Cadillac V-Series.R – Cadillac Racing – 2:03.115
4. #99 Porsche 963 – Proton Competition – 2:03.314
5. #12 Porsche – Hertz Team JOTA – 2:03.384
6. #6 Porsche – Porsche Penske Motorsport – 2:03.448
7. #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing – 2:03.572
8. #35 Alpine A424 – Alpine Endurance Team – 2:03.685
9. #83 Ferrari 499P – AF Corse – 2:04.048
10. #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 – BMW M Team WRT – 2:04.062
In the LMGT3 category, Sarah Bovy (#85 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2) clocked the best time of 2:20.527, followed by Team WRT (#46 BMW), Manthey EMA (#91 Porsche), Heart of Racing (#27 Aston Martin), Manthey PUREXCING (#92 Porsche), TF Sport (#81 Corvette), United Autosports (#95 and #59 McLarens), Vista AF Corse (#54 Ferrari) and Akkodis ASP Team (#78 Lexus).
The Hyperpole was disrupted when the #92 Porsche driven by Aliaksandr Malykhin left the track in the Raidillon. Bovy set her sights on pole position, and though the Belgian driver failed to improve her qualifying time, she did place the #85 Lamborghini in the top spot on the starting grid with a time of 2:20.755. She beat the United Autosports team's #95 McLaren by just 0.3 seconds.
Sarah Bovy: It's a wonderful feeling to be in pole position, and a first for me here at Spa-Francorchamps. When I went into my attack lap, I saw the Raidillon grandstands packed with fans and that was a huge source of motivation. The Hyperpole wasn't easy due to the interruption following the #92 Porsche's incident. I had to keep calm. I want to thank my team for giving me an extremely competitive car.
1. #85 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2 – Iron Dames – 2:20.755
2. #95 McLaren 720S LMGT3 Evo – United Autosports – 2:21.092
3. #46 BMW M4 LMGT3 – Team WRT – 2:21.138
4. #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 – Manthey EMA – 2:21.285
5. #59 McLaren 720 LMGT3 Evo – United Autosports – 2:21.293
6. #27 Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Heart of Racing – 2:21.350
7. #54 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 – Vista AF Corse – 2:21.583
8. #81 Corvette Z06 LMGT3.R – TF Sport – 2:22.215
9. #78 Lexus RC F LMGT3 – Akkodis ASP Team
10. #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3 – Manthey PURERXCING
The start of the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will be given tomorrow at 13:00 (12:00 GMT). Take a peak at the photo gallery from the free practice and qualifying sessions below.
