GTE: BMW takes an option on pole

Already, during the four hours of free practice at the start of the evening, the BMW M3s seemed very comfortable on the big Le Mans track. The Bavarians confirmed this evening, during the first qualifying session of the 79th 24 Hours of Le Mans. The No. 56 of the trio Andy Priaulx-Dirk Müller-Joey Hand achieved a time of 3:58:426. As a reminder, the pole in the category last year was signed in 4:00:097. As for the best time for the M3s, it was 4:04:986.

In second place, at 0??5, we find the Ferrari 458 Italia from the AF Corse team entrusted to Giancarlo Fisichella, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander. The second BMW M3 of Augusto Farfus, Jorg Müller and Dirk Werner completes the leading trio.

The two Corvettes follow in 4th and 5th places. The first one Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, that of the ProSpeed ​​Compétition team, is sixth.

As is customary, the category is extremely tight. BMW, however, confirms its excellent start to the season, positions itself as favorite for victory, and takes a slight moral advantage over the competition. However, the qualifications are not over. Tomorrow, from 19 p.m. to 21 p.m. then from 22 p.m. to midnight, Ferrari, Corvette and Porsche will have the opportunity to attack the clock again to dethrone the #00 BMW. Unless everyone makes the decision to stay calm and focus on the race.

Discover in your AUTOhebdo magazine, currently on newsstands, around fifteen pages on the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including exclusive interviews with Anthony Davidson and Philippe Sinault, as well as Henri Pescarolo's column.