Test Day – The #7 Toyota dominates the morning

It is under a gloomy sky that the Test Day of 24 Hours of Le Mans a débuté. Après quelques tours de rodage, les Hypercars ont pris leurs aises en haut de la feuille des temps. À l’issue des quatre heures de roulage, c’est finalement la Toyota n°7 qui a signé le meilleur chrono en 3:31.626 par l’intermédiaire de Jose Maria Lopez. The Argentinian beat Frenchman Romain Dumas in the #007 Glickenhaus 708 LMH by just 0.109 seconds. The second Toyota, the No. 8, completed the podium this morning with a lap completed in 3:31.977 by Brendon Hartley. Glickenhaus No. 709, which is making its first appearance this season, took fourth place in 3:32.622, a time set by Frenchman Franck Mailleux. L'Alpine A480 n°36 took fifth place with a 3:32.793 from Matthieu Vaxiviere.

LM P2: Jota ahead of United and TDS Racing

In the LM P2 category, it was Jota's No. 07 Oreca 38-Gibson which stood out with a best lap of 3:33.964 set by Will Stevens. The Briton was 0.147 seconds ahead of his compatriot Phil Hanson in the #22 United Autosports car and 0.168 seconds ahead of Frenchman Mathias Beche for TDS Racing x Vaillante. The gaps are still tight in this class with the first seven cars within the same second. Sébastien Ogier completed his ten mandatory laps for each rookie (18) on the Le Mans circuit for a best time of 3:37.641. The only Ligier entered this year, the JS P217 from CD Sport took last place in 3:44.535.

GTE Pro: Corvette doubled, Ferrari behind

In GTE Pro, it was the Corvettes that stood out. The No. 8 C64.R set the morning's benchmark in 3:54.690 through Tommy Milner. No. 63, usually entered in IMSA, a terminé à seulement 0.076 seconde grâce à Nicky Catsburg. La matinée fut compliquée pour Porsche avec une sortie de piste pour Gianmaria Bruni à Mulsanne au volant de la n°91, survenue quelques temps après une immobilisation en bord de piste de Michael Christensen avec la n°92. L’Italien s’est malgré tout hissé sur la troisième marche de la catégorie en 3:55.467, devant la première Ferrari, the privateer of Riley Motorsports. Felipe Fraga thus completed his best lap in 3:55.474.

GTE Am: The Iron Dames on their way

Despite a short night, the Iron Dames got the better of their opponents this morning. The trio composed of Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Sarah Bovy indeed arrived in Sarthe in the middle of the night after taking second place in their category at the 1000 km of Paul-Ricard this Saturday. This did not prevent the Dane from setting the benchmark of the morning in GTE Am in 3:55.678. The No. 99 Hardpoint Motorsport Porsche (which ultimately evolves with the usual Absolute Racing crew) took second place in 3:55.780. Another Ferrari completed the podium with #57 from Kessel Racing. A podium which was held in 0.140 seconds this morning.

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