Porsche Dominates Free Practice 3 Ahead of Le Mans 24 Hours
Le Mans, France – Porsche Penske Motorsport showcased impressive race pace during Free Practice 3, leading the session ahead of the 93rd annual Le Mans 24 Hours. The three-hour practice on a warm, sunny afternoon saw teams re-evaluating setup following overnight rain that washed away rubber on the circuit.
Mathieu Jaminet clocked a blistering lap of 3:24.717 in the #5 Porsche 963, setting the fastest time with just 37 minutes remaining. Earl Bamber’s late push propelled the #38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R to second, with a time of 3:25.533, narrowly edging out teammate Will Stevens in the #12 JOTA Cadillac.
The top five was rounded out by the #51 Ferrari AF Corse 499P and the #83 AF Corse Ferrari, while the #20 Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8, #4 Penske Porsche, and #311 Whelen Cadillac followed closely behind. Notably, the #6 Penske Porsche experienced difficulties, finishing 12th after being disqualified from the first qualifying session due to a minimum weight breach.
LMP2 Performance:
Mathias Beche delivered the fastest lap in LMP2 with a time of 3:36.827 in the Pro/Am #29 ORECA 07-Gibson. United Autosports’ #23 ORECA followed suit, with the #43 Inter Europol Competition entry completing the top three.
LMGT3 Insights:
In GT racing, the #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 led the class with a time of 3:55.897, pushing the #92 Manthey 1st Phorm Porsche 911 LMGT3 R into second. The top five was completed by the #78 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus, #10 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin, and #46 Team WRT BMW.
Incidents and Technical Issues:
Several incidents marred the session, including a spin at Ford Chicane for Vista AF Corse’s Thomas Flohr and a collision for Jonas Ried of Iron Lynx-Proton LMP2. A red flag was prompted by Aliaksandr Malykhin of CLX Pure Racing, who struck a tire barrier while attempting to avoid another car.
The #101 Cadillac WTR V-Series.R underwent an engine change after detecting an issue during the session, ensuring its readiness for the upcoming Hyperpole Qualifying, set to begin at 20:00 CET for LMP2 and LMGT3, followed by Hypercar sessions at 21:05 CET.
Key Results from Free Practice 3:
- 1st: #5 Porsche 963 – 3:24.717
- 2nd: #38 Cadillac V-Series.R – 3:25.533
- 3rd: #12 Cadillac V-Series.R – Time not specified
- 4th: #51 Ferrari 499P – Time not specified
- 5th: #83 Ferrari – Time not specified
- LMP2 Winner: #29 ORECA 07-Gibson – 3:36.827
- LMGT3 Leader: #27 Aston Martin Vantage – 3:55.897
Prepared for a thrilling weekend ahead, teams will need to fine-tune their strategies before the prestigious endurance race commences.
