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Added on the 19/06/2018 12:36:23 - Copyright : Auto Moto EN
Perfect result for the Porsche customer teams in the hyperpole of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Dries Vanthoor sensationally took pole position in the fiercely contested GTE-Pro class on Thursday evening at the wheel of HubAuto Racing's Porsche 911 RSR in 3:46.882 minutes. The Belgian, brother of Porsche works driver Laurens Vanthoor, prevailed in a close time chase against strong competition from all factory teams. In the GTE-Am category, the 911 will start from the first three positions on Saturday at 16:00. Porsche Young Professional Julian Andlauer from France was more than half a second faster at the wheel of the #88 Dempsey-Proton Racing car than Benjamin Barker in the identical GR Racing car and Matteo Cairoli in the #56 Project 1.
All three Ferrari teams turned competitive laps on Thursday as practice opened for the 24 Hours At Daytona. Risi Competizione, Scuderia Corsa and AF Corse all led sessions in their respective classes during the recent Roar Before the 24 weekend, and will be among the teams to watch when the 59th running of America’s premier endurance race begins on Saturday at 3:40 p.m. ET.James Calado was second in the competitive GT Le Mans class in Thursday’s afternoon session, turning a lap of 1:42.754-seconds in the No. 62 Ferrari 488 GTE, while Jules Gounon was third in the morning opening practice with a lap of 1:43.196-seconds. They will be joined by Alessandro Pier Guidi and Davide Rigon in Saturday’s race.
The temporary nature of the French track prevents teams and drivers from carrying out continuous test sessions. However, technology and the development of the simulators allow them to prepare for the year’s most anticipated race completely and thoroughly. Mauro Barbieri, coordinator of Vehicle performance, simulation and track engineering at Ferrari Competizioni GT, shows us how the simulator plays an increasingly important role in defining the race setups and how the development of the simulator itself takes place.
Just a few hours before the green light for the Virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans, Jordy Zwiers, one of the sim racers behind the wheel of the 488 GTE no. 71 of AF Corse, answers five questions for fans of the Maranello-based company.
Ahead of the Virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans, Kasper Stoltze, one of the sim-racers competing in the French marathon at the wheel of the 488 GTE no. 51 of AF Corse, answers five questions for aficionados of the Maranello-based company.