A thrilling display of raw speed and strategic prowess unfolded in the preliminary qualifying session for one of endurance racing’s most anticipated events, as reported by sportsamo.com. The #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA Hypercar, piloted by a formidable trio, stormed to the top of the leaderboard, laying down a marker that sent ripples through the paddock. Their performance highlighted a fiercely competitive field across all three classes, promising an epic battle for supremacy in the upcoming main event.
The session saw the Hypercar class, the pinnacle of sports car racing, deliver on its promise of nail-biting competition. Sébastien Bourdais, Earl Bamber, and Jack Aitken, sharing duties in the Cadillac V-Series.R, clocked an impressive best lap of 3:26.843, showcasing the car’s formidable pace and the drivers’ exceptional skill. The French-Kiwi-British lineup completed 14 laps, demonstrating both speed and consistency at an average speed of 237.153 km/h. This dominant performance by the Cadillac team, a joint effort between the American luxury marque and the seasoned British JOTA squad, immediately positions them as a strong contender for pole position, especially with Bourdais, a Le Mans native and multiple champion, at the helm.
Hot on their heels, the #20 BMW M Team WRT Hypercar, driven by Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon Van Der Linde, proved BMW’s intent with a lap time of 3:27.037, just 0.194 seconds shy of the Cadillac. The German-Dutch-South African combination, running the BMW M Hybrid V8, completed 10 laps and maintained an average speed of 236.931 km/h. This close margin underscores the intense rivalry already brewing in the Hypercar category, with BMW demonstrating a significant step forward in their endurance program. The M Hybrid V8’s agility and the drivers’ experience suggest they will be a force to be reckoned with as the event progresses.
Perennial frontrunners Toyota Racing, with their #7 Toyota TR010 Hybrid crewed by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi, and Nyck de Vries, secured third place, a mere 0.303 seconds off the leading Cadillac. Their best lap of 3:27.146, achieved over 16 laps, points to the reliability and consistent pace that has defined Toyota’s recent dominance in endurance racing. While not topping the charts this time, their established track record and strategic acumen mean they can never be counted out. The battle between these three manufacturers sets the stage for a captivating fight for overall honors.
Further down the Hypercar standings, the second Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA entry, car #12, featuring Louis Deletraz, Will Stevens, and Norman Nato, demonstrated the team’s overall strength by placing fourth with a 3:27.282. The Alpine Endurance Team’s #35 Alpine A424, piloted by Antonio Felix da Costa, Charles Milesi, and Ferdinand Habsburg, was close behind in fifth, posting a 3:27.335. Both teams exhibited strong potential, highlighting the depth of talent and machinery in the Hypercar class. The Alpine, a new challenger, is quickly proving its mettle against more established rivals.
AF Corse’s #83 Ferrari 499P, with Ye Yifei, Robert Kubica, and Philip Hanson, took sixth place at 3:27.415, showcasing Ferrari’s competitive edge despite not leading the pack. Cadillac WTR’s #101 V-Series.R, driven by Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, and Filipe Albuquerque, also featured prominently in seventh with a 3:27.587. The second factory Ferrari, the #51 FERRARI AF CORSE 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, found itself in eighth position at 3:27.694. This tightly packed top eight in the Hypercar category, all within less than a second of the leader, emphasizes the critical role that even the smallest strategic decisions and driver performances will play in the grueling race ahead.
Peugeot TotalEnergies, with their distinctive 9X8 Hypercars, showed signs of improvement, with the #94 car (Loic Duval, Malthe Jakobsen, Theo Pourchaire) and the #93 car (Paul di Resta, Stoffel Vandoorne, Nick Cassidy) securing ninth and tenth positions respectively. While their times of 3:27.760 and 3:28.158 suggest they are still searching for ultimate pace, the French manufacturer’s commitment and the drivers’ experience cannot be underestimated. Toyota’s second entry, the #8 TR010 Hybrid, featuring Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Ryo Hirakawa, was a surprising 11th, a testament to the unpredictable nature of qualifying and the sheer competitiveness of the field.
Intriguing new entries also made their presence felt. Genesis Magma Racing’s #17 Genesis GMR-001, shared by André Lotterer, Pipo Derani, and M. Jaubert, secured 13th with a 3:28.874, an impressive debut for the potential new manufacturer in a highly competitive arena. Aston Martin THOR Team’s #007 Valkyrie, driven by Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble, and Ross Gunn, was just behind in 14th at 3:28.925, showcasing the raw potential of the Valkyrie platform. These new names add another layer of excitement and unpredictability to the Hypercar class, hinting at future manufacturer battles.
The LMP2 class, known for its fierce competition and talent development, was led by the #183 AF Corse Oreca 07 – Gibson. François Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxiviere, and Ben Barnicoat put in a stellar performance, recording a best lap of 3:36.111. This placed them significantly ahead of their class rivals, though still almost nine seconds off the overall Hypercar pace, illustrating the performance gap between the two prototype categories. The Oreca 07 chassis, the dominant force in LMP2, once again proved its mettle.
Close behind, the #30 DUQUEINE TEAM Oreca 07, featuring the highly talented Doriane Pin alongside Julien Andlauer and Richard Verschoor, clocked a 3:36.801, less than a second behind the class leader. Pin’s presence in a top LMP2 team continues to draw attention, and her performance reinforces her reputation as a rising star. CLX Motorsport’s #37 entry, with A. Closmenil, I. Aguilera, and T. Jensen, rounded out the top three in LMP2 with a 3:37.146. The LMP2 class, a breeding ground for future Hypercar drivers, is a hotbed of international talent, with drivers from across the globe battling for every tenth of a second. Noteworthy drivers like Romain Dumas in the #48 RD Limited and Jack Doohan in the #24 NIELSEN RACING Oreca also featured prominently, further underscoring the class’s depth.
The LMGT3 class, replacing the GTE category, provided its own brand of intense wheel-to-wheel action. TF Sport’s #33 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, driven by Ben Keating, Jonny Edgar, and Nick Catsburg, set the benchmark with a 3:55.262. This powerful American machine, coupled with the experienced driver lineup, immediately made a statement. Keating, a seasoned gentleman driver, combined with the youth and pace of Edgar and the factory experience of Catsburg, formed a potent combination.
The Corvette’s dominance extended with the #34 Racing Team Turkey by TF entry, shared by P. Dempsey, Salih Yoluc, and Charlie Eastwood, taking second in class with a 3:55.576. The Heart of Racing Team’s #23 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, piloted by G. Newell, Dudu Barrichello, and Jonathan Adam, was a close third at 3:55.621. This tight battle at the top of LMGT3 highlights the effectiveness of the new regulations and the competitiveness among the diverse range of manufacturers, including Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Lexus, and Ford.
Ferrari’s GT3 efforts saw the Vista AF Corse #21 and #54 Ferrari 296 GT3 Evos placing seventh and eighth respectively within the class, with drivers like Alessio Rovera and Davide Rigon demonstrating the Italian marque’s potential. Garage 59’s McLaren 720S GT3 Evo entries (#10 and #58) also showcased the British manufacturer’s speed, while Kessel Racing’s Ferraris (#74 and #57) remained firmly in the mix. BMW M Team WRT also fielded two strong LMGT3 entries, with the #69 and #32 BMW M4 GT3 Evos showing promising pace, notably with Augusto Farfus and Sean Gelael.
A particularly interesting entry in LMGT3 was the #88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3, driven by Stefano Gattuso, Giammarco Levorato, and former Formula 1 driver Logan Sargeant. Their lap of 3:59.608 placed them 60th overall and towards the lower end of the LMGT3 class, but the presence of a current F1 driver making an appearance in endurance racing adds a unique flavor to the event. The Ford Mustang GT3’s debut is eagerly watched, marking a new chapter for the iconic American muscle car in global endurance racing.
As the dust settles on this initial qualifying session, the stage is undeniably set for a captivating endurance spectacle. The Hypercar class, with its blend of established giants and ambitious newcomers, promises a high-stakes battle for overall victory. The LMP2 class continues to be a hotbed of talent and fierce competition, while the LMGT3 category offers a fascinating multi-manufacturer showdown. The close lap times and intense rivalries across all categories suggest that the upcoming race will be a true test of speed, strategy, and unwavering endurance for every team and driver involved.
