Since 2020, the starting grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been decided during the Hyperpole, the final qualifying session bringing together the best cars in each category. The suspense continued until the last lap of the two Toyotas after a hot time from Nicolas Lapierre (Alpine)
The Toyotas, sovereign since the start of free practice and qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will monopolize the front row on Saturday at the start of the 90th edition of the Le Mans classic. A little surprise in the ranks of the Japanese team, Kamui Kobayashi did not set the best time. The Japanese arrow, which could equal Jacky Ickx’s record of five pole positions, was beaten by Brendon Hartley, driving the other GR010. A pole position achieved in 3’24”408 for the New Zealand driver, four tenths ahead of his neighbor in the garage.
Alpine faster than expected
At the time of starting their last flying lap, the Toyotas were overtaken by the astonishing Alpine, which had lowered its time by five seconds compared to free practice in the afternoon! Nicolas Lapierre then held a totally unexpected provisional pole position, as the Blues seemed to be behind since the first laps of the track last Sunday. “I really had a fantastic ride with good suction” smiled the French driver. “But above all, it’s really reassuring to have become so efficient again. The team did a great job”. Alpine will therefore be in third position on the starting grid, ahead of Glickenhaus spectators of the Franco-Japanese match for pole. The best American car finishes one second behind the Alpine.
– Alexandre Dimou
Doubles in the other categories
In LMP2, the WRT team offered a recital by placing its two cars in the first two places, with a surreal lap time from Robien Frijns, at the wheel of the n°31, which “stuck” a second and a half from Norman Nato in the controls of n°41. Winner last year in this category, the WRT team will be the favorites on the LMP2 field.
In GT-Pro a double also. Corvette flew through qualifying ahead of the Porsches and Ferraris. Pole goes to Nick Tandy, the former LMP1 driver, winner of the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche. Ferrari also managed its double, but in GT-Am. The pole signed by the French driver Vincent Abril.
Toyota (Hypercar), WRT (LMP2), Corvette (GT-Pro) and Ferrari (GT-Am): this third Hyperpole in history came down to doubles in each category.