BMW aims for top 4 in Hyperpole after Qualifying

The ambitious German team seems to have the means to achieve its ambitions. Late on Wednesday, the #15 BMW of Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello, and Kevin Magnussen placed second overall, just behind the No. 12 Cadillac of Alex Lynn, who set a best time of 3:22.847 in the final moments of the session.

BMW came close to taking the lead in this first session by just 40 seconds. This was a source of great satisfaction for Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport. "We are very happy in Hypercar. The No. 15 set a great second time, a very good lap where everything came together well, he rejoicedRobin Frijns' No. 20 also set a good, solid time and easily placed in the top 15. (8th. Editor’s note). We're looking forward to Hyperpole 1 tomorrow, and we also hope to bring the cars to Hyperpole 2."

A conscious risk at BMW

"Robin locked a wheel and lost some time, explains Vincent Vosse, boss of WRT. Unfortunately, I think we could have put both cars in the top 4. For the #15, we had a slightly off-kilter strategy. (The Hypercar came out late to do its tour. Editor's note). The puncture ofAlpine represented a risk, but a calculated risk."

Given this untapped potential, the German team seems to be clinging to an excellent result before the race. "The top four is possible," says Vincent Vosse. "Robin's time, if he had finished his third sector in 4, would have put him third or fourth. Having both cars in the top five, yes, it's possible. If we feel we have the potential, obviously we'll have the motivation to go for it."

Believing in the possibility of his team achieving pole position given the best time set by Cadillac, also equipped with a Dallara chassis, the WRT boss acknowledges that all would not be decided yet. "It's not an end in itself. The race will be long, it will be hot, and there's still a lot to do. But in any case, it puts a smile on our faces!"

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