Video | Heavy crash in free practice for 24 Hours of Le Mans

General

Crash Le Mans free practice
7 June 2023 at 16:53
Last update 7 June 2023 at 21:07
  • GPblog.com

Qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans follows later on Wednesday, but there was already plenty of action on the historic circuit in the afternoon. Toyota was - as expected - the fastest. With Brendon Hartley behind the wheel, the No 8 Toyota was fastest during the three-hour session (3.27.742). Behind him, it was Kamui Kobayashi in the Japanese marque's other car who managed to record the second fastest time: 3.27.875.

Cadillac recorded the third fastest time. Their best time was clocked up by Earl Bamber. He conceded just two tenths to Hartley's fastest time. Behind the first Cadillac were two Porsches, which conceded just four tenths to the fastest Toyota. So it looks like the teams are going to be pretty evenly matched at Le Mans. 


Big crash

In the LMP2 class, Pietro Fittipaldi was fastest in the JOTA. The Brazilian, reserve driver for the Haas F1 team, clocked a 3.34.579. Finishing second was the number 37 of Cool Racing with Malthe Jakobsen in the car. 

The free practice session was interrupted after an hour and a half following a big crash by D'Station Racing with Casper Stevenson behind the wheel. He lost control of his car and crashed into the crash barrier. He came to a stop on the track, after which several cars were able to avoid him. Steven Thomas of Tower Motorsports did not and crashed full into Stevenson's car. Both drivers were unhurt.