Ferrari Dominates Night Practice Ahead of 93rd Le Mans 24 Hours
In a crucial final hour of night practice for the 93rd Le Mans 24 Hours, Ferrari secured a commanding 1-2 finish, signaling a resurgence after a disappointing Hyperpole session. Robert Kubica posted the fastest time in the yellow #83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, clocking in at 3:26.523, closely followed by the factory red #50 Ferrari 499P.
Cadillac showed strong form with three cars in the top four, led by the #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R in third place. The #38 Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac was fourth, while the pole-sitting #12 JOTA Cadillac finished sixth behind the #6 Porsche Penske Motorsport 963.
In the LMP2 category, the #48 VDS Panis Racing ORECA 07-Gibson topped the class with a time of 3:38.302, driven by Toyota-backed rookie Esteban Masson. He was followed closely by the #29 TDS Racing ORECA and the #183 AF Corse ORECA.
Jose Maria Lopez claimed the top position in LMGT3 with a time of 3:55.057 in the #87 Akkodis ASP Team Lexus RC F LMGT3. He outpaced the #10 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin and the #54 Vista AF Corse Ferrari.
However, the session was not without complications. The #63 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG experienced issues early on, halting before completing a full lap. The team’s ongoing chassis adjustment following Stephen Grove’s Free Practice 1 crash has compounded their challenges heading into the race weekend.
Additionally, the #23 United Autosports ORECA faced drama when Daniel Schneider suffered a right-front puncture, halting on the Mulsanne Straight and prompting a Full Course Yellow. The #15 Team WRT BMW M Hybrid V8 also struggled, returning to the garage after just one lap due to cooling system problems.
Towards the conclusion of the practice, Zacharie Robichon reported potential drivetrain issues in the LMGT3 pole-sitting #27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage, but the car managed to return to track in time for the chequered flag.
As teams finalize their preparations, the stage is set for an intense race at Le Mans this weekend.
