Buemi’s Toyota N.8, Le Mans 24-hour race pole

New Zealander Brendon Hartley’s N.8 Toyota, Switzerland’s Sebastien Buemi, and Japan’s Ryo Hirakawa won the pole position at the last moment of the superpole at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Thursday.

The Japanese manufacturer confirmed its position as a favorite of the race by placing the second Toyota N.7, which won last year, in the front row in the race starting at 4 pm this Saturday.

It was the final lap that Hartley completed the Circuit de la Salt in the best time of 3: 24.408 / 1000, ahead of his sister’s car driven by Kamui Kobayashi (3: 24.828 / 1000) last year. was.

The New Zealanders also set the fastest time since the 24 Hours of Le Mans began at this superpole. In this superpole, the fastest 6 cars of each class gathered in the first qualifying session.

Again Toyota secured the front row position just before the checkered flag, but the superpole was dominated by Alpine of Andrene Grao in Brazil and Matthew and Nicolas Lapierre of France. The latter surprised everyone by setting a reference time of 20 minutes after a disappointing test for the French team.

At the third time of 3: 24: 850/1000, Alpine starts in the second row, which is not so bad.