Photo: Porsche
Porsche managed to get off to an ideal start in Le Mans, after they set a new qualifying lap record in the process. However, we all know that's not enough to grant them a smooth ride in the competition, but pole position still gives them a slight advantage.
After last year's near-miss in Le Mans, Porsche are determined to secure the victory after 24 hours of exhausting racing at Circuit de la Sarthe, and they made their point right from the start.
But this is Porsche we are talking about, which means the two 919 Hybrid prototypes had a lot of work on their hands, courtesy of both Porsche factory works drivers, Neel Jani and Timo Bernhardt.
They managed to break a record that stood untouched for seven years, since Stéphane Sarrazin was clocked in at 3:18.51 in his Peugeot 908 back in 2008.
At the end of these qualifying sessions, the Porsche 919 Hybrid #18 (Dumas, Jani, Lieb) signed the best timing with 3.16.887 in front of its team car, #17 (Webber, Bernhard, Hartley) at eight tenths and the third Porsche 919 Hybrid #19 (Tandy, Hulkenberg, Bamber) at 2.4 seconds.
Last year's winners Audi came in the next three spots behind the Porsches, as Audi R18 e-tron Quattro prototypes #8, #9 and #7 finished the round between three and five seconds behind Porsche's cavalry. Toyota's #1 and #1 TSO40 Hybrids came in after Porsche and Audi, but the time difference between the Japanese racers and their German rivals was nearly seven seconds.
Porsche's performance in the qualifying rounds showed up for the challenge, combining both very high cornering speeds and dizziness-inducing top speeds. However, the Le Mans race is focused on endurance, and a lot can happen in 24 hours. The departure of the 83rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be given on Saturday 13th June at 3.00 pm.
But this is Porsche we are talking about, which means the two 919 Hybrid prototypes had a lot of work on their hands, courtesy of both Porsche factory works drivers, Neel Jani and Timo Bernhardt.
They managed to break a record that stood untouched for seven years, since Stéphane Sarrazin was clocked in at 3:18.51 in his Peugeot 908 back in 2008.
At the end of these qualifying sessions, the Porsche 919 Hybrid #18 (Dumas, Jani, Lieb) signed the best timing with 3.16.887 in front of its team car, #17 (Webber, Bernhard, Hartley) at eight tenths and the third Porsche 919 Hybrid #19 (Tandy, Hulkenberg, Bamber) at 2.4 seconds.
Last year's winners Audi came in the next three spots behind the Porsches, as Audi R18 e-tron Quattro prototypes #8, #9 and #7 finished the round between three and five seconds behind Porsche's cavalry. Toyota's #1 and #1 TSO40 Hybrids came in after Porsche and Audi, but the time difference between the Japanese racers and their German rivals was nearly seven seconds.
Porsche's performance in the qualifying rounds showed up for the challenge, combining both very high cornering speeds and dizziness-inducing top speeds. However, the Le Mans race is focused on endurance, and a lot can happen in 24 hours. The departure of the 83rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be given on Saturday 13th June at 3.00 pm.
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