Kamui Kobayashi and Toyota Gazoo Take Pole Position

Share
Kamui Kobayashi, #7 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 – Hybrid Hypercar, 24 Hours of Le Mans , Saturday Set Up, Circuit des 24 Heures, Le Mans, Pays da Loire, France

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Kamui Kobayashi driving the No. 7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid Hypercar has taken pole position for this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, round four of FIA WEC.

It is the fourth time in five years that Kobayashi has taken pole at Le Mans. The outright track record holder sealed pole with a sensational 3m23.900s lap.

Hub Auto Porsche took a surprise pole in LMGTE Pro after the session was red flagged following accident for Kevin Estre’s Porsche 911 RSR – 19 at Indianapolis Corner.

Antonio Felix da Costa on top for WEC entry JOTA in LMP2, while No.88 Dempsey Proton Porsche takes pole in the LMGTE Am category.

Hypercar

  • Kamui Kobayashi sets pole for the 89th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans by setting rapid 3m23.900s lap in the No.7 Toyota GR010-Hybrid Hypercar
  • No.8 Toyota GR010-Hybrid Hypercar takes second best time as Brendon Hartley posts 3m24.195s lap just 0.295s off pole
  • Alpine Elf Matmut with Nicolas Lapierre will start third on grid after 3m25.574s lap effort
  • No. 708 Glickenhaus Racing entry driven by Olivier Pla places fourth with a 3m25.639s lap set by Pla who gets to within 0.065s of Alpine
  • No. 709 Glickenhaus of Roman Dumas will start in fifth place for Glickenhaus Racing’s first Le Mans start
#8 Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota GR010 – Hybrid Hypercar, Sébastien Buemi, Kazuki Nakajima, Brendon Hartley, 24 Hours of Le Mans , Free Practice 1, Circuit des 24 Heures, Le Mans, Pays da Loire, France

LMGTE Pro

  • Dries Vanthoor stars for Hub Auto Porsche as he takes surprise pole position with sensational lap of 3m46.882
  • Belgian young-gun beats WEC entry No. 52 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE driven by Daniel Serra who sets a lap just 0.171s off polesitter
  • No.63 Corvette places third as Nick Tandy makes it three different manufacturers in top three positions
  • Accident for points leading No.92 Porsche as Kevin Estre endures off at Indianapolis
#72 Hub Auto Racing Porsche 911 RSR – 19 LMGTE Pro, Dries Vanthoor, Alvaro Parente, Maxime Martin, 24 Hours of Le Mans , Free Practice 1, Circuit des 24 Heures, Le Mans, Pays da Loire, France

LMP2

  • Antonio Felix da Costa takes No.38 JOTA car to LMP2 pole position with a 3m27.950s lap
  • Portuguese ace laps 0.5s quicker than Louis Deletraz in No.41 Team WRT machine
  • Panis Racing’s Will Stevens peaks on a 3m28.586s lap to claim third place start on Saturday afternoon
  • G-Drive with No.26 car qualified by Nyck de Vries starts fourth ahead of United Autosports USA pair as No.32 car just beats No.23 machine

 

LMGTE Am

  • No.88 Dempsey Proton Racing Porsche’s 3m47.987s set by Julien Andlauer good enough for pole as French ace continues excellent form
  • GR Racing take second as Tom Gamble brings joy to British team with fine 3m48.560s lap
  • Team Project 1 Porsche driven by Matteo Cairoli in third position ahead of No.47 Cetilar Racing

 

The RacerViews info

By Matt Hancock

We are passionate, dedicated motorsport professionals.

In 2021 you will see us trackside and stage side with exclusive coverage of

  • The World Endurance Championship
  • The World Rally Championship
  • Belgian Rally Championship
  • and more!

We aim to bring you interviews and photos you won’t see anywhere else. We don’t aim to break the news, rather we aim to bring the voices of the racers to you and atmosphere of the event to you at home. Our social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube bring you more, a holistic experience. We partner with racers and professionals in the industry and give back where we can. If we can help you or you have a story to share, please contact us.

RacerViews has partnered with Championships, drivers and teams in the past. If you think we can help, have a tip or just want to say hi, please reach out.