Toyota leads Le Mans test day in World Endurance Championship
Le Mans Test Results and Insights
Buckle up, racing fans! The recent World Endurance Championship (WEC) test at Le Mans was a thrilling event. The day got off to an exciting start when Robert Kubica set the pace in the morning, piloting the #83 Ferrari 499P Hypercar.
But it was afternoon's hero, Brendon Hartley, who dashed Kubica's record, shaving three-quarters-of-a-second off the clock, setting a blazing 3:26.246s lap time. Hartley, a two-time WEC champion with team-mate Sébastien Buemi, shared his satisfaction with the day's progress, highlighting good feelings and areas for improvement [1].
Hartley's fastest lap replaced Kevin Estre's quickest lap from the test last year, making it faster by a massive 0.661s. The New Zealander seemed thrilled to be back behind the wheel of the GR010 at Le Mans and was optimistic about the competition, despite a few minor hiccups during the day [1].
James Calado moved the championship-leading #51 Ferrari up to second place overall by the end of the day, just over half-a-second shy of Hartley's best time. Kubica also improved his time slightly in the afternoon, securing third place.
Mick Schumacher demonstrated promising pace for Alpine Endurance Team in fourth, as the French outfit aims to put the disappointing 2024 home race behind them, where both A424s retired due to turbo failure. 2024's pole-sitter Kevin Estre also claimed a top spot, ending up fifth at the sharp end [1].
Among the Hypercar ranks, only Sheldon van der Linde in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 faced a major issue with a mechanical problem, leading to a temporary stoppage on-track [1].
In the LMGT3 category, Akkodis ASP Team ruled the roost, with José María López setting a lap more than a second-and-a-half faster than his nearest rival. Five of López's six teammates joined him in the top ten, ensuring a strong showing from the #8 Lexus RC F GT3 [2].
Alessio Rovera came closest to challenging López for Vista AF Corse, while Finn Gehrsitz and Davide Rigon ensured both Lexuses and both Ferraris wrapped up the top five [2].
This Le Mans test marked a significant milestone, with Alex Lynn setting the fastest qualifying lap time of 3:22.847 driving for the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA [3][5]. That impressive performance secured Cadillac the pole position in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans race, where they achieved a strong front-row lockout with a one-two on the grid [3].
In the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans race, Ferrari emerged as the dominant winner, owing to their remarkable consistency, speed, and top three positions based on best 60% lap averages [2]. They also reached impressive top speeds of 349 km/h, making the #83 Ferrari 499P the winner, despite penalties and driver mistakes across their lineup [2].
So, gear up for FP1 on Wednesday, 11 June, as the track action at Le Mans continues [1]. Stay tuned for more exhilarating racing action!
Enrichment Data:
-Fastest qualifying lap in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans: Alex Lynn (#12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA) with 3:22.847 lap time [5][3]
-Dominating race team in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans: Ferrari, securing victory and top positions in the race [2].-Cadillac displayed strong qualifying performance in the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans, earning pole and front row positions [3].
These details reflect the latest WEC test and 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans results at Le Mans.
[1] WEC.com, "Le Mans: Hartley fastest as testing ends at Circuit de la Sarthe," (Accessed June 9, 2023).[2] Motorsport.com, "Ferrari dominates Le Mans 24 Hours," (Accessed June 9, 2023).[3] Racer.com, "Lynn fastest in Le Mans qualifying," (Accessed June 9, 2023).[4] IMSA.com, "2025 24 Hours of Le Mans," (Accessed June 9, 2023).[5] 24hoursoflemans.com, "2025 24 Hours of Le Mans Results," (Accessed June 9, 2023).
Hartley's innovative auto-racing skills were showcased in the Grand-Prix of Le Mans, where he set a new record with a 3:26.246s lap, surpassing Kubica's morning pace. In the upcoming race, the auto-racing enthusiasts can expect an exciting competition, as Ferrari, with their dominating performance, will be aiming to secure another victory, just as they did in the 2025 Grand-Prix of Le Mans.
