LM24: Rebellion tops FP3 timesheets as darkness falls
The third practice session at 24 Hours of Le Mans was held under darkness to allow the 177 drivers competing in this year’s race crucial seat-time to help prepare them for driving through the night this weekend.
After Toyota Gazoo Racing dominated the timesheets in FP1, FP2 and qualifying, it was the turn of Rebellion Racing to set the quickest time in FP3 out of the LMP1 crews. The No. 3 Rebellion R13 Gibson shared by Romain Dumas, Nathanael Berthon and Louis Deletraz clocked the quickest lap with a time of 3:19.158s early in the session.
Trouble hit Le Mans returnees ByKolles Sport as the No. 4 Enso CLM P1/01 car collided with a wall half-way through FP3, causing the session to be red flagged for 20 minutes while the car was retrieved. Bruno Spengler walked away from the car unharmed but was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks.
Once upon a time, around 10pm in September on the French public road #LeMans24 #WEC pic.twitter.com/oSUZMEALE7
— WEC (@FIAWEC) September 17, 2020
LMGTE Pro saw Porsche GT Team top the times in FP3 as the No. 92 clocked a fastest time of 3:52.177. The No. 97 Aston Martin Racing car was second fastest, 0.190s ahead of the sister No. 95 Aston Martin Vantage. No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE Evo fourth overall.
Out of the eight WEC LMP2 entrants, the No. 22 United Autosports entry shared by Paul Di Resta, Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson was quickest in the ORECA 07 Gibson (fourth overall as Duqueine Team topped the overall LMP2 times). Racing Team Nederland was second fastest out of the WEC crews (fifth overall), two spots ahead of Jackie Chan DC Racing who finished seventh overall.
LMGTE Am saw MR Racing post the fastest lap in FP3 with a time of 3:54.490 in the Ferrari 488 GTE Evo, just 0.100s ahead of the No. 98 Aston Martin Racing car. The all-girl crew of Iron Lynx were third quickest.
#DidYouKnow sixteen Ferraris will start 24 Hours of Le Mans?
— WEC (@FIAWEC) September 17, 2020
#LeMans24 #WEC @Ferrari @FerrariRaces pic.twitter.com/qaaJ0R23cn
The No. 62 Red River Sport entry crashed during the final 20 minutes of tonight’s four-hour session with Bonamy Grimes at the wheel. The incident brought out the red flag and the session was not resumed.
Click HERE for full times from FP3.
The fourth and final practice session will take place at 10h00 tomorrow morning with Hyperpole set to start at 11h30.
