24 Hours of Le Mans: Cadillac lock out front row in Hyperpole as Alex Lynn and Earl Bamber clinch one-two

A great evening of action in northern France unfolded as the Hyperpole rolled out ahead of Saturday's race. Thursday was all about getting yourself in the best position on the grid, with the teams and their respective drivers battling it out over two sessions, with the final one - H2 - lasting just 15 minutes. And it proved a great evening for Cadillac.

‘Double jeopardy’ – Slow zone activated after Richard Mille AF Corse gets stuck on gravel

Video credit: TNT Sports

LYNN PROVIDES PERFECT ONE-TWO FOR CADILLAC

Alex Lynn provided a perfect final sector as he took Hypercar pole for Saturday’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA driver was locked in a battle with the Porsche Penske Motorsport duo in their Porsche 963 throughout the second Hyperpole session.

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However, No. 12 driver Lynn responded going into second and then going a position better to take pole in 3:23.166

Team-mate Earl Bamber driving the No. 38 car finished just one hundredth of a second behind in second and No. 5 Porsche 963 driver Mathieu Jaminet was third 0.309 behind.

The new Hyperpole format provided drama as the No. 51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P car driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi finished 11th and missed the top-10 cut to make Hyperpole 2.

There were also celebrations in the TDS Racing garage as the Oreca 07-Gibson car driven by Mathias Beche snatched pole position on the final lap in the LMP2 category.

A close battle saw the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07-Gibson car driven by Tom Dillmann edged by just 0.271s into second, and previous quickest lap setter Louis Deletraz in the No. 199 AO by TF Oreca 07-Gibson was third.

Heart of Racing took pole in the LMGT3 category as Mattia Drudi driving the Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3 posted a commanding time which was unbeatable.

Starting second on Saturday is the Vista AF Corse No. 21 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 car driven by Alessio Rovera.

Meanwhile, Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi posted an impressive time to place his No. 46 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 car into third.

LYNN SAYS TAKING POLL IS ‘A SPECIAL FEELING’

Alex Lynn said that driving his Cadillac Hertz team JOTA onto Hypercar pole position at 24 Hours of Le Mans was a ‘special feeling’.

He said: "Every time you have the opportunity to drive this kind of car around Le Mans with low fuel and new tyres is an honour.

"I’m truly honoured to be able to deliver a performance like that and deliver the car to Cadillac how they deserved, in the first position.

"It’s a special feeling, it’s such a magical circuit, a wonderful place and a place I really love to try and perform my best."

FRONT ROW LOCKOUT FOR CADILLAC

Epic celebrations in the Cadillac Hertz team JOTA garage as Lynn takes pole.

He is followed by #38 car team-mate Earl Bamber who finishes just 0.167 of a second behind.

Third place is the #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 car driven by Mathieu Jaminet.

'Front row lockout!' - Lynn & Bamber complete Cadillac one-two in Le Mans qualifying

Video credit: TNT Sports

LYNN GOES QUICKEST

An epic lap for Lynn sees the Cadillac Hertz team JOTA driver battle for the top time. A vital third sector sees him post the fastest 3:23.166.

BUEMI OUT OF SESSION

The Toyota Gazoo Racing car is out of time and will hope to retain his ninth place start on the grid.

PORSCHE SET BENCHMARK

The Porsche Penske Motorsport #4 car has set the quickest time of 3:23 and is followed by #5 team-mate #4.

However, they only briefly have a one-two before the #12 Cadillac Hertz team JOTA car driven by Alex Lynn takes second.

Lynn looked bound to move into pole before a slow final sector which saw him take a heavy hold of the brakes.

BUEMI INTO THE GRAVEL

The dusk conditions have resulted in some difficult driving conditions.

The #8 of Toyota Gazoo Racing driven by Sebastien Buemi has ended up in the gravel and has a puncture. He locked the brakes and will have to nurse the car back around to the pits and will lose vital qualifying time.

EARLY PITS

While some cars are on their out laps the #20 BMW M Team WRT and #36 Alpine Endurance team have both gone for very early pit stops and a change of tyres.

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HYPERPOLE 2 GETS UNDERWAY

The Hypercars have changed drivers and the quickest 10 drivers from Hyperpole 1 are back on the track.

END OF HYPERPOLE 1

Mick Schumacher has driven by #36 car of Alpine Endurance team looked to have posted the quickest time of Hyperpole 1.

However, the Cadillac Whelen #311 goes quickest with 3:22, followed by a second Cadillac.

Cars are scorching through the final lap in a bid to save themselves. Two Ferraris are the victims as the #51 and #83 cars go out.

Alessandro Pier Guidi is furious that he is unable to challenge for pole as his #53 Ferrari AF Corse goes out.

Also going out is the #9 Aston Martin THOR, #101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing and the #53 of Alpine Endurance Team.

PORSCHE LOSE A WHEEL

The #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport had taken a pit stop to replace its tyres. However, they must not have been fitted properly as after a slow lap the one wheel came flying off.

'Oh my goodness' - Wheel comes off #5 Porsche Penske in dramatic moment

Video credit: TNT Sports

CHATIN INTO SEVENTH

The #35 Alpine Endurance Team driver has left it late and is one of several cars finishing quickly. Chatin moves himself into the top 10 positions.

CHATIN YET TO POST TIME

The #35 Alpine Endurance Team car driven by Paul-Loup Chatin and the #101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing cars are yet to post a time and facing missing Hyperpole 2 with just four minutes remaining.

CADILLAC PITS OUT OF TOP 10

The #12 Cadillac Hertz team JOTA car are opting for a change of tyres to try and get out of Hyperpole 1. However, they will only get two laps in with just seven minutes left on the clock.

PORSCHE SET MARKER

The #5 Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 car driven by Julien Andlauer has the quickest time following the first hot lap.

However, Mick Schumacher in the Alpine Endurance team is close behind. The top 10 qualify to Hyperpole 2.

HYPERCARS TAKE TO TRACK

There is no break at Le Mans as the Hypercars are on track and warming their tyres in the opening lap.

TDS RACING TAKE POLE

There are celebrations in the TDS Racing garage as the Oreca 07-Gibson car driven by Mathias Beche has posted the fastest LMP2 time of 3:35.

Inter Europol Competition’s #43 car will start second on the grid and eventually AO by TF have to settle for third.

'What a big moment!' - TDS Racing’s Beche claims LMP2 Hyperpole at Le Mans

Video credit: TNT Sports

LMGT3 HYPERPOLE 2 RESULTS

The LMGT3 cars are the first to finish as the 27# car of Heart of Racing takes pole with a time of 3:52 driven by Drudi.

Taking second is the Vista AF Corse #21 car and the Team WRT car of #46 driven by Rossi is third.

Drudi puts in 'one of the standout performances of qualifying' to take LMGT3 pole

Video credit: TNT Sports

HANLEY TAKES LEAD

The #23 United Autosport car driven by Ben Hanley has gone quickest in Hyperpole 2 by just 0.02 seconds faster than the #29 TDS Racing car and the AO by TF car has been pushed into third in LMP2.

AO BY TF ARE QUICKEST

The #199 car of AO By TF currently has the fastest LMP2 time of 3:36 with five minutes of racing remaining.

In the LMGT3 category it is the #21 Vista AF Corse car in 3:53.

TASTER LAP

With the cars grouped together some drivers are just trying to get some warmth in their tyres.

Meanwhile, others want to get a time on the board. Cars will only get three laps in this session to try and grab pole.

ROSSI IN ACTION

Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi is in action as he takes over the #46 Team WRT BMW M4 LMGT3 car from lead driver Ahmad Al Harthy. The cars are now back underway in Hyperpole 2.

Now we will find out who takes pole position for Saturday's race. There will be 15 minutes of action.

END OF HYPERPOLE 1

A last minute saviour in the LMGT3 category for the #95 United car who snatch eighth position at the last moment. Meanwhile, the #59 United car, the #88 Proton and #193 Ziggo Sport Tempestra have exited the session after missing the top eight.

Meanwhile, in LMP2 both Algarve Pro Racing cars are out along with the VDS Panis Racing #48 car and IDEC Sport #28 car.

NEW LEADERS

The #43 car of Inter Europol Competition have perfected a hot lap and set the new quickest LMP2 time of 3:34.6

The LMGT3 has a new leader as the #46 car of Team WRT have a time of 3:54

THREE MINUTES LEFT OF HYPERPOLE 1

This red flag impacted session has really had an impact on driving time.

Several teams are yet to record a time as they have had their times eliminated by track limits.

The #95 car of United Autosport in LMGT3 have pulled over off the track but are far enough out the way.BACK UNDERWAY

After the first lap the #23 of United Autosports (Pro/Am) currently has the fastest LMP2 time of 3:36.

The top of the five qualifying LMGT3 times is the #21 car of Vista AF Corse in 3:54.

RED FLAG

Cars have completed their first full lap before #54 Francesco Castellacci has crashed his Ferrari 296 GT3 into the sand.

The Ferrari 296 GT3 will not continue this session and will now start 12th on the grid.

Meanwhile, the #37 has also clipped wall before somehow keeping the car of track.

Despite this first lap being somewhat of a sighting lap drivers have already seen their times whipped out by track limits.

ROSSI WATCHES FROM GARAGE

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi is watching the garage as number one driver Ahmad Al Harthy is behind the #46 Team WRT wheel in the LMGT3 category.

The team qualified quickest last night and are going all out to make the qualify into Hyperpole 2.

HYPERPOLE 1 UNDERWAY

The LMP2 and LMGT3 cars are underway in their Hyperpole 1 session. The pressure will be on for those top eight positions.

Teams have had some difficult decisions to make on which driver they go with and which tyres as they bid to make the cut.

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Button, a former Formula One world champion, will be racing for Cadillac Hertz Team Jota in France. The iconic event will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ this weekend.

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HYPERPOLE: HOW IT WORKS

There will be 24 cars (12 LMP2 and 12 LMGT3) going out on track first in Hyperpole 1. The top eight in each category will then make it through to the second Hyperpole section.

Like in F1 it is all about qualifying into Hyperpole 2 for these drivers. Going quickest in the first section is irrelevant as times are re-set for the second session.

In Hyperpole 1 and 2 teams must use different drivers.

There will be 15 Hypercars in their Hyperpole 1 session which will be reduced to 10 for Hyperpole 2.

CADILLAC TOP ORDER IN QUALIFYING

Yesterday’s qualifying session saw the #12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, piloted by Alex Lynn, top the Hypercar standings ahead of the #15 BMW M Team WRT and the #51 Ferrari AF Corse.

In the LMP2 category, the #199 AO by TF, piloted by Louis Deletraz, topped the timesheets, ahead of the #23 United Autosports and the #45 Algarve Pro Racing.

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi celebrated from the garage as the #46 Team WRT claimed the fastest LMGT3 time, ahead of the #27 Heart of Racing Team and the #92 Manthey 1st Phorm.

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