The Hyperpole session started late, at 8:35 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. It took a long time to repair the rail, after the huge crash that involved an LMP3 in Race 1 of the Road to Le Mans. An accident which, fortunately, had no consequences for the pilot.
This left longer than expected concentration time for the eight crews in each category. And tension too, since the sky (read rain) could fall on the audience’s heads at any moment, under very stubborn clouds.
Everyone left without delay for thirty minutes of madness, in a fight for the Hyperpole more exciting than ever. The big prize in qualifying, the BMW No. 15, was the first on track to try to create a new feat, followed by the two Ferraris. The only thing missing was the N°12 Porsche from Jota, still undergoing repairs after its crash the day before.
Very quickly, the duel was clearly established in Hypercar: it was Ferrari against Cadillac. Sébastien Bourdais has stolen provisional pole from Antonio Fuoco!
The favorites from the other categories took their place from the start: Louis Deletraz (AO by TF) provisionally dominated the LMP2 rankings. Then, Inception Racing, with the No. 70 McLaren, took the lead midway through the session.
Sébastien Bourdais hit the nail on the head, in 3:24.816, relegating the first of the two Ferraris, the No. 50 of the diabolical Antonio Fuoco, to seven tenths. And Paul-Loup Chatin, on this Alpine which got people talking at Toyota, set the 4th provisional time.
The McLaren of Inception almost set an even faster time, before its driver, Brendan Iribe, spun at the entrance to the pit straight. He managed, with great skill, to avoid the gravel.
Qualifying madness!
Everyone returned to the pits to do a little “splash”, change tires and set off again for the final assault. The No. 2 Cadillac remained in the pits for a long time, before the team let Alex Lynn return to the track.
And then, disaster: Dries Vanthoor, who had improved his first sector, crashed out at the Indianapolis corner, crashing his No. 15 BMW into the gravel. It was over for him, as he caused a red flag. The pole dreams are gone.
The clock was stopped at precisely 7:41. We were then going to witness a crazy finale, everyone trying to find their way. But everyone was surprised when the international production showed Sébastien Bourdais getting out of the car, being congratulated in his stand.
Ferrari then had a chance to try to place one or even two cars on the front row, including pole. Neither Ferrari was able to improve.
Alex Lynn, in the No. 2 Cadillac, had taken an incredible provisional pole to the detriment of Bourdais… Then Kevin Estre, out of nowhere with the No. 6 Porsche, blew the whistle on Cadillac, depriving it of locking the first line. The Lyonnais took advantage of a very good aspiration of an LMP2 between Mulsanne and Indianapolis to gain precious time. The Alpine No. 35, with Paul-Loup Chatin, finished in 6th place, which is already a great success for a beginner program.
Elsewhere, there was no suspense: Louis Delétraz destroyed the competition on a last crazy lap in LMP2, with AO by TF, while Brendan Iribe, in the No. 70 McLaren Inception, gave McLaren a pole for the British manufacturer’s big return to endurance.
