Practice report

Le Mans 24h: BMW beats Alpine in red-flagged FP3 as LMDh cars dominate

A last-gasp effort from Vanthoor put BMW at the front in the final practice session before Hyperpole

BMW claimed the top spot in third practice for the Le Mans 24 Hours following a late flying lap from one-lap specialist Dries Vanthoor.

The Belgian set a blistering time of 3m23.302s in the final minutes of the two-hour session, putting the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 over four tenths ahead of Victor Martins in the #36 Alpine A424.

Jota’s Norman Nato led the way at the beginning of the session with a best time of 3m24.048s in the #12 Cadillac V-Series.R, with Ricky Taylor slotting into second in the additional Cadillac entered by Wayne Taylor Racing.

With about 25 minutes remaining on the clock, the session was stopped as United Autosports driver Daniel Schneider crashed heading into the final chicane, suffering significant damage to the front-left section of the #222 Oreca.

The Brazilian was able to bring the hobbling car back into the pits, allowing the session to resume shortly afterwards.

A flurry of improvements followed in the final minutes of practice, as several teams completed a qualifying simulation on soft tyres ahead of the grid-deciding Hyperpole session.

Vanthoor split the two Cadillacs on his first flying lap, before he moved to the front of the field on his final tour. At the same time, Martins moved up to second for Alpine, leaving the #12 Caddy in third place.

Nato’s team-mate Will Stevens tried to respond with a late effort of his own, but ultimately ended up half a second off the pace.

Robin Frijns backed up Vanthoor’s performance with fourth place in the #20 BMW, while Mathys Jaubert propelled newcomer Genesis to fifth.

#17 Genesis Magma Racing Genesis GMR-001-Hypercar: Andre Lotterer, Pipo Derani, Mathys Jaubert

Photo by: JEP

Despite losing the top spot towards the end, Cadillac enjoyed a strong evening at Circuit de la Sarthe, with its remaining two cars finishing sixth and eighth in practice. Jota driver Earl Bamber was fractionally than WTR’s Filipe Albuquerque, with the two Caddys split by the #35 Alpine of Charles Milesi.

The fastest LMH car was the #51 Ferrari 499P, Antonio Giovinazzi ending up 1.296s down on BMW’s pacesetting LMDh. Paul-Loup Chatin completed the top 10 for Genesis.

Apart from the late red-flag, the penultimate practice session of the week was also disrupted by a full-course yellow at around the 80-minute mark, as an incident between the #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie and the #29 Forestier Racing by Panis Oreca 07 at the Ford Chicane left debris on track.

Panis leads LMP2 despite drama

The #29 Panis Oreca ended up at the top of the leaderboard despite Rousset’s clash with the Aston LMH and an off-track moment for Esteban Masson in the final hour.

Rousset’s early benchmark of 3m34.252s put him exactly 0.001s ahead of the #30 Duqueine driven by 2019 Macau Grand Prix winner Richard Verschoor.

The two drivers ended up more than two tenths clear of the rest of the LMP2 pack, led by Reshad de Gerus in the #343 Inter Europol.

Aston fastest in LMGT3

Heart of Racing beat WRT to the top spot in the LMGT3 class, with Eduardo Barrichello leading the way in the #23 Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

Clemens Schmid set the initial pace in ASP’s #87 Lexus RC F GT3, taking the top spot with a time of 3m54.115s.

Sean Gelael eclipsed Schmid’s lap at the beginning of the second hour, before Barrichello posted a time of 3m53.996s to end the session on top.

Gelael held on to second in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 despite, with Schmid’s earlier benchmark proving good enough for third place.

FP3

All Stats

Cla	Team	#	Drivers	Car	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	15	K. Magnussen R. Marciello D. Vanthoor	BMW M Hybrid V8	45	3'23.302		241.284
2	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	36	F. Makowiecki J. Gounon V. Martins	Alpine A424	42	+0.423 3'23.725	0.423	240.783
3	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	12	L. Deletraz W. Stevens N. Nato	Cadillac V-Series.R	45	+0.514 3'23.816	0.091	240.675
4	BMW M Team WRT HYPERCAR	20	R. Frijns R. Rast S. Van Der Linde	BMW M Hybrid V8	44	+0.860 3'24.162	0.346	240.268
5	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	17	A. Lotterer P. Derani M. Jaubert	Genesis GMR-001	38	+0.893 3'24.195	0.033	240.229
6	Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA HYPERCAR	38	S. Bourdais E. Bamber J. Aitken	Cadillac V-Series.R	43	+0.915 3'24.217	0.022	240.203
7	Alpine Endurance Team HYPERCAR	35	A. Felix da Costa C. Milesi F. Habsburg	Alpine A424	40	+0.985 3'24.287	0.070	240.121
8	Cadillac WTR HYPERCAR	101	R. Taylor J. Taylor F. Albuquerque	Cadillac V-Series.R	42	+1.154 3'24.456	0.169	239.922
9	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	51	A. Pier Guidi J. Calado A. Giovinazzi	Ferrari 499P	42	+1.296 3'24.598	0.142	239.756
10	Genesis Magma Racing HYPERCAR	19	M. Jaminet P. Chatin D. Juncadella	Genesis GMR-001	24	+1.493 3'24.795	0.197	239.525
11	FERRARI AF CORSE HYPERCAR	50	A. Fuoco N. Nielsen M. Molina	Ferrari 499P	47	+1.810 3'25.112	0.317	239.155
12	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	8	S. Buemi B. Hartley R. Hirakawa	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	44	+1.929 3'25.231	0.119	239.016
13	Toyota Racing HYPERCAR	7	M. Conway K. Kobayashi N. de Vries	Toyota TR010 Hybrid	45	+2.046 3'25.348	0.117	238.880
14	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	009	A. Riberas M. Sorensen R. De Angelis	Aston Martin Valkyrie	44	+2.286 3'25.588	0.240	238.601
15	Aston Martin THOR Team HYPERCAR	007	H. Tincknell T. Gamble R. Gunn	Aston Martin Valkyrie	37	+3.096 3'26.398	0.810	237.665
16	AF Corse HYPERCAR	83	Y. Yifei R. Kubica P. Hanson	Ferrari 499P	44	+3.394 3'26.696	0.298	237.322
17	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	94	L. Duval M. Jakobsen T. Pourchaire	Peugeot 9X8	43	+4.418 3'27.720	1.024	236.152
18	PEUGEOT TOTALENERGIES HYPERCAR	93	P. di Resta S. Vandoorne N. Cassidy	Peugeot 9X8	42	+4.736 3'28.038	0.318	235.791
19	Forestier Racing by Panis LMP2	29	L. Rousset E. Masson O. Gray	Oreca 07 - Gibson	36	+10.950 3'34.252	6.214	228.952
20	DUQUEINE TEAM LMP2	30	D. Pin J. Andlauer R. Verschoor	Oreca 07 - Gibson	32	+10.951 3'34.253	0.001	228.951
21	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	343	B. Garg R. de Gerus N. Müller	Oreca 07 - Gibson	36	+11.378 3'34.680	0.427	228.496
22	TDS Racing LMP2	14	T. Lutke M. Beche K. Estre	Oreca 07 - Gibson	40	+11.467 3'34.769	0.089	228.401
23	NIELSEN RACING LMP2	24	D. Heinemeier Hansson E. Pearson J. Doohan	Oreca 07 - Gibson	43	+11.780 3'35.082	0.313	228.069
24	Crowdstrike Racing by APR LMP2	4	G. Kurtz A. Quinn L. Heinrich	Oreca 07 - Gibson	42	+11.867 3'35.169	0.087	227.977
25	AF Corse LMP2	183	F. Perrodo M. Vaxiviere B. Barnicoat	Oreca 07 - Gibson	38	+11.993 3'35.295	0.126	227.843
26	VECTOR SPORT LMP2	26	R. Cullen V. Lomko P. Fittipaldi	Oreca 07 - Gibson	40	+12.126 3'35.428	0.133	227.702
27	INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION LMP2	43	J. Smiechowski T. Dillmann N. Yelloly	Oreca 07 - Gibson	42	+12.198 3'35.500	0.072	227.626
28	CLX Motorsport LMP2	37	A. Closmenil I. Aguilera T. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	21	+12.235 3'35.537	0.037	227.587
29	IDEC SPORT LMP2	28	P. Lafargue V. Rinicella J. Van Uitert	Oreca 07 - Gibson	35	+12.240 3'35.542	0.005	227.582
30	United Autosports LMP2	222	D. Schneider B. Hanley O. Jarvis	Oreca 07 - Gibson	32	+12.249 3'35.551	0.009	227.573
31	Algarve Pro Racing Team LMP2	25	M. Jensen E. Trulli J. Hughes	Oreca 07 - Gibson	40	+12.556 3'35.858	0.307	227.249
32	AO by TF LMP2	99	P. Hyett J. Allen D. Cameron	Oreca 07 - Gibson	40	+12.644 3'35.946	0.088	227.156
33	DKR Engineering LMP2	3	J. Farano S. Alvarez R. van der Zande	Oreca 07 - Gibson	41	+12.725 3'36.027	0.081	227.071
34	United Autosports LMP2	22	R. Lindh G. Saucy M. Jensen	Oreca 07 - Gibson	29	+13.692 3'36.994	0.967	226.059
35	Proton Competition LMP2	9	J. Ried K. Ohta H. King	Oreca 07 - Gibson	37	+13.710 3'37.012	0.018	226.040
36	RD Limited LMP2	48	F. Poordad T. Vautier R. Dumas	Oreca 07 - Gibson	39	+14.521 3'37.823	0.811	225.199
37	Proton Competition LMP2	44	H. Felbermayr Jr. H. Felbermayr L. Fluxá	Oreca 07 - Gibson	26	+15.040 3'38.342	0.519	224.664
38	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	23	G. Newell D. Barrichello J. Adam	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	36	+30.426 3'53.728	15.386	209.874
39	TEAM WRT LMGT3	32	D. Leung S. Gelael A. Farfus	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	37	+30.634 3'53.936	0.208	209.688
40	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	87	R. Umbrarescu C. Schmid J. Lopez	Lexus RC F GT3	33	+30.813 3'54.115	0.179	209.527
41	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	54	T. Flohr F. Castellacci D. Rigon	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	38	+31.145 3'54.447	0.332	209.231
42	AKKODIS ASP Team LMGT3	78	T. Rompuy H. David J. Hawksworth	Lexus RC F GT3	35	+31.174 3'54.476	0.029	209.205
43	Garage 59 LMGT3	10	A. Au T. Fleming M. Kirchhofer	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	37	+31.201 3'54.503	0.027	209.181
44	Heart of Racing Team LMGT3	27	I. James Z. Robichon M. Drudi	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	36	+31.218 3'54.520	0.017	209.165
45	The Bend Manthey LMGT3	92	Y. Shahin R. Pera R. Lietz	Porsche 911 GT3 R	37	+31.452 3'54.754	0.234	208.957
46	Vista AF Corse LMGT3	21	F. Heriau S. Mann A. Rovera	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	39	+31.480 3'54.782	0.028	208.932
47	Kessel Racing LMGT3	74	D. Blattner L. Patrese D. Marschall	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	40	+31.605 3'54.907	0.125	208.821
48	TEAM WRT LMGT3	69	A. McIntosh P. Thompson D. Harper	BMW M4 GT3 Evo	34	+31.859 3'55.161	0.254	208.595
49	Racing Spirit of Leman LMGT3	59	C. Mateu M. Fossard V. Hasse-Clot	Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3	39	+31.865 3'55.167	0.006	208.590
50	Kessel Racing LMGT3	57	T. Kimura C. Laursen D. Serra	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	40	+31.901 3'55.203	0.036	208.558
51	Team Qatar by Iron Lynx LMGT3	62	A. Ali Al-Khelaifi J. Hanses G. Alesi	Mercedes AMG GT3	39	+31.930 3'55.232	0.029	208.532
52	IRON LYNX LMGT3	61	M. Berry R. Andrade M. Martin	Mercedes AMG GT3	34	+32.016 3'55.318	0.086	208.456
53	TF Sport LMGT3	33	B. Keating J. Edgar N. Catsburg	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	33	+32.019 3'55.321	0.003	208.453
54	Garage 59 LMGT3	58	A. West F. Gehrsitz B. Goethe	McLaren 720S GT3 Evo	38	+32.347 3'55.649	0.328	208.163
55	RICHARD MILLE AF CORSE LMGT3	150	C. Toledo L. Wadoux R. Agostini	Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo	37	+32.367 3'55.669	0.020	208.146
56	Manthey DK Engineering LMGT3	91	J. Cottingham T. Boguslavskiy A. Güven	Porsche 911 GT3 R	40	+32.536 3'55.838	0.169	207.997
57	TF Sport LMGT3	2	J. Ibrahim L. Nicolas Hanafin B. Green	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	35	+32.788 3'56.090	0.252	207.775
58	Racing Team Turkey by TF LMGT3	34	P. Dempsey S. Yoluc C. Eastwood	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	31	+32.894 3'56.196	0.106	207.681
59	Proton Competition LMGT3	88	S. Gattuso G. Levorato L. Sargeant	Ford Mustang GT3	33	+33.127 3'56.429	0.233	207.477
60	Proton Competition LMGT3	77	E. Powell B. Tuck S. Priaulx	Ford Mustang GT3	37	+33.439 3'56.741	0.312	207.203
61	13 Autosport LMGT3	13	O. Fidani L. Kern M. Bell	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R	33	+33.626 3'56.928	0.187	207.040
62	IRON LYNX LMGT3	79	J. Zelger M. Cressoni L. Hodenius	Mercedes AMG GT3	35	+33.401 3'56.703		207.236
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