The first Le Mans 24 qualifying session went as expected, with Audi sweeping the top three positions. Toyota finished fourth, though the #7 car was in second for most of the session. A few final flying laps, including an amazing effort by André Lotterer at the very end of the session gave Audi the top three spots.
Toyota’s best time was 1.738 seconds slower than the leading Audi. The #8 Toyota managed sixth fastest after changing an engine which blew in practice.
Straka Racing had the quickest gas-powered P1, seven seconds down on the quickest Audi. Obviously ACO has a bit more fiddling to do with its equivalency formula.
In P2, three seconds covered the top 13 cars; this class will be ultra-competitive on race day. The Thiriet/TDS Oreca-Nissan toped the class by .625 seconds over the similar Murphy Racing entry.
The DeltaWing, running unclassified as New Tech/Garage 56, managed a lap of 3:42 before its fire-extinguisher went off, shorting the electrics.
American Le Mans Series team Corvette Racing took two of the top three spots in GTE-Pro, sandwiching the #59 Luxury Racing Ferrari 458. Tom Milner and Jordan Taylor piloted the two Corvettes, for that All-American touch.
GTE-Am went to another ALMS team, the #79 Flying Lizards Motorsports Porsche, with another American, Spencer Pumpelly at the wheel.
There will be two more qualifying sessions Thursday.
