Successful shakedown for the Jota-Porsche #12
As we have already reported in detail in a separate article, the Jota Porsche #12 (Stevens/Ilott/Nato) was rebuilt after the accident on Thursday. The successful shakedown took place on Friday evening at the airfield next to the race track, so that the team can check again at 12 o’clock in the 15-minute warm-up whether everything is working properly. What an achievement by the Jota team!
The starting line-up at a glance
The Porsche #6 (Estre/Lotterer/L. Vanthoor) will start the 24-hour race from pole position at 4 p.m. – but what does it look like behind it? In our photo gallery you can click through the starting order of all 63 vehicles, including the hotly contested LMP2 and LMGT3 classes!
Photo gallery: The starting grid for the 24h Le Mans 2024
How is the weather?
Today you’ll have to keep your eyes on the sky, as rain showers are forecast. At the moment, the sky over the Circuit de la Sarthe is still partly blue, albeit with thick clouds, but it won’t stay that way. The first showers are expected to arrive at the track in the afternoon, shortly after the start of the race. So it will remain exciting!
Zinedine Zidane as Le Mans starter
In keeping with the start of the European Football Championship yesterday Friday, Zinedine Zidane was named the official starter of this year’s edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The former footballer will send the field on the 24-hour journey at 4 p.m. with the French flag.
The secret behind Kevin Estre’s qualifying round
Porsche Penske Motorsport confirmed that slight changes were made to the set-up for qualifying to give it a little more oversteer. The set-up will not be used in the race, but Urs Kuratle said that the fact that it was as oversteering as it looked was a result of Estre’s driving style. Toyota, on the other hand, told us that the lap was not surprising.
© Motorsport Images
Due to tire damage: Lamborghini race canceled!
The race day in Le Mans was actually supposed to start with the second race of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe – but the race was cancelled on Thursday due to various tyre problems! The second “Road to Le Mans” race was therefore brought forward and is already underway.
The official statement: “Following several tyre failures during the first race of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe at Le Mans on Thursday 13 June, Lamborghini Squadra Corse, in collaboration with its tyre partner Hankook, carried out a risk assessment. Despite significant efforts to keep the race going and despite the assessment still ongoing, the decision was taken to abandon the second race of the weekend for safety reasons. Safety remains of paramount importance for Lamborghini Squadra Corse and the championship organisers would like to express their regrets to their teams, drivers and fans for these exceptional circumstances.”
Good morning from Le Mans!
Greetings from Le Mans! It’s race day at the Sarthe – and we’ll keep you up to date with all the happenings. Heiko Stritzke, Mario Fritzsche and Sönke Brederlow report on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Who will win?