24 Hours of Le Mans – Free Practice 3: Porsche leads a session for the first time
Car #5 was the fastest car in the last practice session before the hyperpole. It relegated the competition to just under a second.
The final preparations before the hyperpole. Even if not all the cars will have the chance to compete in the early evening for the pole position chase, this third practice session allows for a last adjustment before tackling the challenge of a fast lap.
In a rather interesting rhythm – but far from what the hypercars will achieve in hyperpole – the Ferraris set the sectors. The #51 immediately clocked a time of 3:25’705”, while the #83, in second, was running six-tenths slower.
The lap times of the rest of the pack were not incredible at the end of the first hour of driving. Most of the competitors were lapping at 3:29, or even beyond 3:30 for some.
A first neutralization, via a slow zone, occurred shortly after the first hour. The LMP2 #9 from Iron Lynx went straight on at Indianapolis. The prototype was able to continue, but in a poor condition.
Two incidents occurred back-to-back midway through the session. The CLX car hit at the exit of the first chicane of the Hunaudières. The impact severely damaged the front of the car. Shortly after, the AF Corse #183 crashed at the entrance of the Porsche curves. The red flag was brought out. The cars stayed in the pits for a good twenty minutes.
The tests were disrupted by a fire alarm in the pit building. The running was not stopped during the checks. During this setback, the Porsche #5 took the lead in the session with nearly a second’s advantage.
The German car maintained its advantage over the two Cadillacs of the Jota team, relegated to almost eight-tenths behind. The TDS Racing #29 achieved the best time in LMP2, as did the Aston Martin of Heart of Racing in GT3.
