On a blistering night at the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Toyota GR010 Hybrid edged past the AF Corse Ferrari 499P to claim the fastest lap in the second practice session for the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Toyota’s triumph over Ferrari
Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi recorded a 3m26.096s run, surpassing Ferrari’s best of 3m26.316s set earlier by Robert Kubica. The forty‑eight‑second improvement cemented Toyota’s position at the front of the timeslap.
Race control disruptions shape the session
Delays and safety car incidents disrupted the first 30 minutes. Nyck de Vries clipped the Dunlop chicane, leaving debris on track and triggering a full‑course yellow. The energy from the Proton Oreca and United Autosports LMP2 added two double‑yellow waves.
Class‑by‑class action
In LMP2, Louis Rousset’s 3m33.645s in the #29 Forestier Oreca 07 put the car 1s ahead of the field. Mazda’s 0s 0? The nine‑to‑one driver problem. In GT3, Darren Leung on the #32 WRT BMW M4 GT3 topped the times, with the Mercedes-AMG GT3 3.6 seconds behind.
Mid‑session stumbles and recoveries
Despite Toyota’s late surge, the brand spent much of the session in the garage after the de Vries incident. Brendon Hartley maintained early momentum, posting a sub‑3m30s lap before the final hour. The team’s depth was showcased when Sebastien Buemi hours later slotted the #8 Toyota into the seventh spot.
Implications for the weekend
Toyota’s lap advantage will shape the strategies heading into the final practice and real‑time qualifying. The Ferrari 499P, unable to penetrate Hyperpole, must rely on upgrades and split‑second pace to close the gap. As the teams fine‑tune their setups, the night’s data provides a blueprint for the intensity to come.
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