Tom Gamble, fastest time on Le Mans Test Day: "It doesn't mean much"

Tom Gamble set the fastest time on the day's Le Mans 24 Hours test, driving the No. 007 Aston Martin Valkyrie, ahead of the No. 8 Toyota and the No. 12 Cadillac. The Briton is encouraged but cautious ahead of Wednesday's practice sessions.

The sun was shining in Sarthe this Sunday, and theAston Martin also. Tom Gamble set the fastest time of the day's test. 24 Hours of Le Mans in 3:26:293 on soft tires at the wheel of the number 007 Valkyrie of the Aston Martin THOR Team, which he shares with Harry Tincknell and Ross Gunn.

A performance that only half surprises the British driver at the wheel, on the eve of his fourth participation in the Le Mans race: “When we arrive at Le Mans, we never really know where we stand in relation to the others. But from this morning, I think the car was P4, so we immediately saw a good pace.”

"It's much more pleasant to drive."

What strikes Tom Gamble most is the evolution of the car compared to the previous edition. Harry Tincknell described it as "night and day," and his teammate completely agrees: "The car's systems work much better now, and the balance is much better too. It's much more enjoyable to drive."

A significant improvement, which the partial resurfacing of the circuit seems to have further accentuated: "It seems that every time there's a slightly grippier surface, it gives the car a slight advantage. We can push much harder. The track is good, and it gets even faster as the week progresses and the grip builds."

Despite his enthusiasm, the Briton remains level-headed. He knows better than anyone the value of a fastest time during a test day at Le Mans, where teams follow very different programs and don't necessarily show all their cards. "It's almost like securing pole position for this race: it doesn't mean much. It's nice, of course, but the main thing will be to be near the top of the standings on Sunday afternoon."

A confidence boost, then, but nothing more — and the week is only just beginning, with the first official free practice sessions for the 24 Hours of Le Mans scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th at 14 PM, which you can follow, along with the rest of the weekend, live on AUTOhebdo.

ALSO READ > 24 Hours of Le Mans – Test Day, Afternoon: The Aston Martin Valkyrie Surprise