Le Mans 24 Hours, Thursday PM Notes

There’s still plenty of activity in the pit garages as the clock ticks down to the 7pm start local time for track action this evening.

We’re set for 2 x 2 Hour qualifying sessions with some forecasts predicting some rain at the end of the first two hour session, and another shower after the 10pm start of the third and final two hours of timed qualifying.

There were several cars in trouble yesterday after a variety of on track woes.

The #76 IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche has returned to the circuit from its overnight rebuild in Rouen courtesy of Raymond Narac’s Porsche Curves whoopsie.

2pm saw the Strakka Racing HPD fire up after a remarkable job by the team to rebuild the provisional LMP2 polesetter after Nick Leventis’s late session shunt.

“I think I carried too much speed out of Turn One and lost it on the kerb, “ said the entirely unscathed Team Principal. “The boys have done a fantastic job – I’m just sorry it was my mistake that made it necessary!”

The Robertson Racing Ford was still in the process of reassembly after its engine change and the Krohn Racing Ferrari seemed to be in the final stages of a change too.

The Gulf AMR Middle East Vantage looked almost good to go after its impact last night with the #1 Audi, but the shutters were still down in R18 land. We’re not aware of any particular dramas, but neither have we been able to see the car back in one piece yet.

Our sources suggest that the Hope Racing Hybrid is so far barely using its Flybrid system – early days yet but the clock is ticking with opportunity running out on the pre-race track time for the #5 car.