Even though overshadowed by the winners, setting the pole position time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans has often led to amazing individual achievements.

All drivers, teams bosses, engineers and mechanics say that to just cross the finish line of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is in itself an achievement. And all these "survivors" celebrate the finish, whether they are winners or twentieth place. But the 24 Hours circuit is so individual, including its unusual length of thirteen kilometres that will setting the fastest qualifying gives a first glimpse of what is required to shine in La Sarthe.

The list below shows the top ten fastest pole times in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and pays tribute to the drivers who went to the limit, both theirs and that of the car, such as Jacky Ickx, Hans -Joachim Stuck, Sebastien Bourdais, Stéphane Sarrazin ... And at the top of this pyramid, Pedro Rodriguez, whose time will probably never be beaten.

1971 - Rodriguez-Oliver (Porsche 917 L) 3’13’’9
1985 – Bell-Stück (Porsche 962 C) 3’14’’80
1989 – Cudini-Jabouille-Schlesser (Sauber C9) 3’15’’04
1988 – Bell-Stück-Ludwig (Porsche 962 C) 3’15’’64
1987 – Mass-Schuppan-Wollek (Porsche 962 C) 3’15’’99
1983 – Ickx-Bell (Porsche 956) 3’16’’56
2008 – Lamy-Sarrazin-Wurz (Peugeot 908 HDi FAP) 3’18’’513
2010 – Bourdais-Lamy-Pagenaud (Peugeot 908 HDi FAP) 3’19’’711
1987 – Cobb-Palmer-Weaver (Porsche 962 C) 3’20’’22
1992 – Alliot-Baldi-Jabouille (Peugeot 905) 3’21’’209
NB – Three of these top ten pole position times were set after the inclusion of the chichanes on the Mulsanne straight in 1990.

The first thing that strikes you when reading this list is that none of these cars has turned pole position into victory, while the list of drivers includes no less than eleven winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thus, setting the pole position time is far from accurate prediction of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It underlines the special nature of this race. However, two consecutive wins for André Lotterer, Marcel Fassler and Benoit Treluyer in 2011 and 2012 were all the more special as the trio started from pole position in both the last two editions of the 24 Hours. Will the winners in 2013 repeat this feat? We will know on the 23rd of June at 15:00 under the chequered flag!

The 90th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans is on the 22nd and 23rd June.  

Click HERE for ticket information.

Entry List HERE.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO

Photo: CIRCUIT OF 24 HOURS (Le Mans, Sarthe), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, START, June 12, 1971. Starting from pole position, Jackie Oliver and Pedro Rodriguez (Porsche 917 No. 18) completed the two fastest laps of the history of the 24 Hours: the first during the Test Day in April, the second in qualifying in June.