The qualifying session for the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans on Thursday saw competitors do battle for a spot in tomorrow's Hyperpole. The cars with the top six times in each class, except LMP1 with only five, will hit the track. The Hyperpole will be held tomorrow from 11:30 to 12:00. This new feature at the race will determine the first positions on the starting grid in each class before the race on Saturday.
Qualifying took place in hot, sunny weather today. Here is a summary of the highlights per class.
LMP1
- Kamui Kobayashi clocked the fastest time at the beginning of the session in 3:17.089 with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's #7 Toyota TS050 Hybrid. He has a 0.247 second lead on the sister car of Kazuki Nakajima.
- Rebellion Racing's #1 Rebellion R13-Gibson, with a new engine after only completing two laps in the second free practice, qualified in third position.
- French driver Tom Dillmann clocked a time of 3:24.468 with ByKOLLES Racing's #4 Enso CLM P1/01-Gibson.
- The #3 Rebellion R13-Gibson rounded out the top 5.
- These five cars will take part in tomorrow's Hyperpole.
LMP2
- Racing Team Nederland proved fastest of the 24 class competitors with a time of 3:26.648 for Nyck de Vries.
- Jackie Chan DC Racing qualified second thanks to Will Stevens' time of 3:27.097 clocked at the beginning of the session.
- United Autosports, LMP2 leader in the WEC, is in third position thanks to Paul di Resta. The team's other car qualified in fifth.
- G-Drive Racing and High Class Racing round out the class.
LMGTE Pro
- A one-two for Aston Martin leading the class.
- Nicki Thiim clocked the quickest time at the wheel of the #95 Aston Martin Vantage in 3:50.872, 0.053 seconds ahead of the #97 sister car.
- AF Corse's Ferrari 488 GTE Evos, the #51 and #71, followed.
- After clocking the fifth and sixth times, Porsche GT Team's #91 and #91 Porsche 911 RSR-19s secured their spots in the Hyperpole.
LMGTE Am
- Aston Martin Racing's #98 scored the fastest time thanks to Ross Gunn in 3:52.778.
- TF Sport qualified the second Vantage in second position.
- Gulf Racing's #86 Porsche 911 RSR of Michael Wainwright/Benjamin Barker/Andrew Watson rounded out the podium.
- Luzich Racing, Dempsey-Proton Racing and Team Project 1 followed.
- Several lap times were voided due to abuse of track limits.
