Circuit de la Sarthe came to a standstill for the Hyperpole sessions following the climatic qualifying session yesterday evening – whetting the appetite for tonight’s feast. Hyperpole 1 was to reduce the Hypercars to 10 and LMGT3 and LMP2 to eight a piece before Hyperpole 2, which was to be a no-holds-barred, final shootout. Quickest would seal the 2025 Hyperpole. With that in mind, teams went to war with each other and the clock.
In Hyperpole 1 – the fastest 15 cars from Wednesday went head-to-head in low fuel qualifying trim and sparks were to fly! The #5 Porsche which went quickest in FP3 earlier today set the benchmark on the first round of competitive flying laps with a 03:23:979 yardstick. The second flying lap, and the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 and #50 Ferrari 499P looked to also be on the pace – all three within a tenth of a second. Drama was to unravel in the first Hyperpole as the #5 Porsche that was top of the times on the approach to the pitlane lost the rear-right wheel in dramatic fashion – luckily making it into the final session… just!
Alpine gave the home fans hope, as Mick Schumacher was top of the tree before a wave of times came through. First, the #20 BMW, then the #38 Hertz Team JOTA Cadillac and befre too long, Jack Aitken led Hyperpole 1 in the #311 Whelan development Cadillac with a blistering target of 03:22.742.
Sadly for British fans, the lone #009 Aston Martin Valkyrie could only manage 15th. Joining the Aston Martin Thor Team on the sideline for the final session was the #101 WTR Cadillac, #35 Alpine and perhaps the biggest shock of the week so far – the #83 AF Corse Ferrari that had been at the sharp end in many of the sessions and 2023 winners – the #51 Ferrari AF Corse also did not make the final cut.
In Hyperpole 2, Sébastien Buemi at the wheel of the #8 Toyota had his heart in his mouth as the Toyota struggled to stop coming into one of the biggest braking zones in world motorsport – the run to the bottom of the Mulsanne. Luckily, the gravel trap slowed his progress, and he was able to dart out of the loose surface and rejoin the race track – but this excursion denied Le Mans legend Toyota a shot at the top spot in 2025.
The stage was all for Cadillac. Alex Lynn showed his Wednesday qualifying pace wasn’t a flash in the pan and rocketed to the summit of the times with a remarkable 03:23.166. Teammate Earl Baber was tenth at this point – the pressure was on! The New Zealander dug deep and almost matched his British stablemate, bu tit was enough to solidify a front row lock-out for the American marque for the first time in Le Mans history.
⏱️ 3.23.166 ! !
Alex Lynn, you are the quickest driver in Hyperpole! #LeMans24 #WECCongratulations to Cadillac @jotaSport for the double success. pic.twitter.com/fNoUC5YiVr
— 24 Hours of Le Mans (@24hoursoflemans) June 12, 2025
