Toyota Leads Le Mans Test Day as Teams Gear Up for Classic Race
Le Mans, France – Toyota’s #8 GR010 HYBRID, piloted by Brendon Hartley, set the pace during the Test Day for the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, posting a time of 3:26.246. The Japanese manufacturer is vying for its sixth overall victory in the landmark endurance event. Despite the impressive lap, Toyota’s technical director, David Floury, cautioned against drawing early conclusions, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of the race.
“The fastest lap doesn’t mean we’re the favorite; we focused primarily on ourselves,” Floury stated. Toyota achieved 141 laps, showcasing both speed and reliability. He noted the tight competition with Ferrari, which is currently riding a three-race winning streak. “It will be tight, and Ferrari is quite strong,” he added, humorously predicting the rival brand as a frontrunner.
In the LMDh category, Alpine’s Mick Schumacher clocked a 3:27.313, positioning the team fourth overall. Sporting director Nicolas Lapierre expressed optimism regarding their performance and reliability, highlighting successful setup work and varied tire testing across sessions.
Porsche demonstrated significant progress with their #6 963 finishing fifth, 1.1 seconds behind Toyota. Director Urs Kuratle noted that the team is focusing on cautious development, aiming for consistency rather than outright speed. “Everything is in one piece, and both our rookies performed well,” he remarked.
BMW, competing with the M Hybrid V8, faced challenges with an oil leak that limited their laps. Robin Frijns’ fastest lap of 3:27.554 placed them ninth in the combined times.
Aston Martin’s performance raised expectations among the team despite not matching the top times. Driver Harry Tincknell expressed satisfaction with the car’s handling and potential, noting, “We are seeing progress, even if the timesheets don’t reflect it.”
Conversely, Peugeot struggled to match the frontrunners, with driver Loic Duval alluding to regulatory challenges impacting their performance. “The pace-wise, we will never be able to be up there with the other guys, that’s for sure,” he acknowledged.
Overall, the Test Day affirmed a competitive landscape as the teams prepare for the race weekend. Floury affirmed, “There are 16, 17, 18 cars that could easily win this race,” forecasting a compelling event.
