Will the No. 82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R Dominate Hyperpole at Le Mans?
Corvette Racing at Le Mans: No. 82 Z06 GT3.R Going for Pole" />
Photo Credit: Richard Prince for Corvette Racing
Thrilling Showdown as Corvette’s Z06 GT3.R Enters Hyperpole Session
LE MANS, France (June 12, 2024) – All eyes are on TF Sport’s Daniel Juncadella who, with a blistering final lap, propelled the No. 82 Chevrolet racing-detroit-what-went-wrong">Corvette Z06 GT3.R into Thursday’s exclusive Hyperpole session. This race weekend promises high stakes and adrenaline rushes as teams vie for pole position in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Juncadella clocked an impressive 3:56.105 lap time at 129.121 mph, securing a third-place finish in the LMGT3 class. He will share driving responsibilities with FIA World Endurance Championship teammates Hiroshi Koizumi and Sebastien Baud. As fans eagerly anticipate the Hyperpole session, the performance sets a hopeful tone for Corvette Racing.
Thursday’s Hyperpole will see Koizumi behind the wheel, owing to the WEC rules stipulating a Bronze-rated driver for this critical session. Meanwhile, Charlie Eastwood narrowly missed out on Hyperpole qualifying, placing 18th in the No. 81 Corvette.
Despite the setback for Eastwood, his 3:57.296 lap offers a solid starting point and highlights the unpredictable nature of the 24-hour endurance race, especially with forecasts predicting rain during the event's second half.
Eastwood and Juncadella were singular in their focus, each putting in exhausting laps to extract maximum performance from their Z06 GT3.Rs. With both cars having taken multiple runs, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the Thursday qualifying that will determine the grid positions.
For motorsport enthusiasts, there are myriad ways to follow the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Coverage begins at 4 p.m. CET / 10 a.m. ET on June 15 with live television on MotorTrend and streaming on FIA WEC and MAX apps, ensuring fans won’t miss a moment.
Driver Reactions Post-Qualifying
DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 82 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – THIRD IN LMGT3:
“I really pushed the limits in that session. We went through three sets of tires to secure our spot in Hyperpole. I’m thrilled with our performance, although I expected it to be slightly easier. The competition is fierce, and we still have some tweaks to make, but I’m optimistic about our chances. It’s a privilege driving the Corvette; thanks to TF Sport for an excellent car. Now, all focus is on preparing for the race.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R – 18TH IN LMGT3:
“Qualifying was tighter than anticipated, and we faced a few challenges with car balance at high speeds. Each of our runs had different setups, as every hour on track is crucial for learning. Dani’s time showed us exactly where we need to improve. Starting position isn’t everything in a 24-hour race, and we’ve got plenty of time to fight our way to the front.”
As we edge closer to race day, the excitement surrounding Corvette Racing is palpable. With an array of strategies at play and unpredictable weather conditions, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is setting up to be an unmissable spectacle for race fans worldwide.
Source:
Corvette Racing
Related:
How to Watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans
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