Kicking the evening off in cool, overcast conditions, the Goodyear-shod LMP2 and LMGT3 classes took to the track to qualify for tomorrow’s Hyperpole knockout sessions. Thirty minutes on the clock; Hyperpole 1 tomorrow was the target.
The #28 IDEC Sport car, with Paul Lafargue in the hot seat, set the first representative time for those behind to chase. However, the youngest driver on the grid, Ian Aguilera in the #37 CLX Motorsport car, was first to step up to the plate, comfortably taking the top spot.
It did not last long, however, as only seconds later FP1 hero Doriane Pin arrived and smashed the benchmark with a 3:36.127 in the #30 Duqueine car. The pair traded blows, with Aguilera reclaiming the top spot a lap later, lowering the yardstick to a 3:35.229 in a tit-for-tat battle.
The young French driver was not to be outdone. Throwing caution to the wind, Pin lowered the bar again to a 3:34.662, the pair clear of the opposition. Hot on their heels, and the only other car able to get close, was the #343 Inter Europol Competition entry of Bijoy Garg.
The casualties in LMP2 were the #44 Proton Competition, #25 Algarve Pro Racing, #48 RD Limited and #3 DKR Engineering entries.
LMP2 Qualifiers
1. Oreca 07-Gibson #30 Duqueine Team – Doriane Pin / Julien Andlauer / Richard Verschoor
2. Oreca 07-Gibson #37 Cool Racing – Adrien Clomesnil / Ian Aguilera / Theodor Jensen
3. Oreca 07-Gibson #343 Inter Europol Competition – Bijoy Carg / Reshad De Gérus / Nico Müller
4. Oreca 07-Gibson #29 Forestier Racing by Panis – Louis Rousset / Esteban Masson / Oliver Gray
5. Oreca 07-Gibson #26 Vector Sport – Ryan Cullen / Vladislav Lomko / Pietro Fittipaldi
6. Oreca 07-Gibson #43 Inter Europol Competition – Jakub Smiechowski / Tom Dillmann / Nicholas Yelloly
7. Oreca 07-Gibson #22 United Autosports – Rasmus Lindh / Grégoire Saucy / Mikkel Jensen
8. Oreca 07-Gibson #24 Nielsen Racing – David Heinemeier Hansson / Edward Pearson / Jack Doohan
9. Oreca 07-Gibson #28 IDEC Sport – Paul Lafargue / Valerio Rinicella / Job Van Uitert
10. Oreca 07-Gibson #9 Iron Lynx-Proton – Jonas Ried / Kakunoshin Ohta / Harry King
11. Oreca 07-Gibson #99 AO by TF – PJ Hyett / James Allen / Dane Cameron (LMP2 Pro/Am)
12. Oreca 07-Gibson #4 Crowdstrike Racing by APR – George Kurtz / Alexander Quinn / Laurin Heinrich (LMP2 Pro/Am)
13. Oreca 07-Gibson #183 AF Corse – François Perrodo / Matthieu Vaxiviere / Ben Barnicoat (LMP2 Pro/Am)
14. Oreca 07-Gibson #14 TDS Racing – Tobias Lutke / Mathias Beche / Kévin Estre (LMP2 Pro/Am)
15. Oreca 07-Gibson #222 United Autosports – Daniel Schneider / Benjamin Hanley / Oliver Jarvis (LMP2 Pro/Am)24 Hours of Le Mans 2026 preview: LMP2 class
More about the LMP2 class
For the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans boasts 19 cars, nine with Pro/Am crews. LMP2 always has its fair share of surprises. Inter Europol Competition is back to defend its 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class title this year.
What is an LMP2?
The “Le Mans Prototype 2” (LMP2) is a closed-cockpit car designed exclusively for racing. LMP2s are the reserve of independent teams participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the European Le Mans Series, the Asian Le Mans Series and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Four constructors have been selected to supply the chassis: Dallara (with the P217), Onroak Automotive (with the Ligier JS P217), Oreca (with the Oreca 07) and Riley/Multimatic (Riley MK30). Gibson is the sole engine supplier. The selling price of a new car, not including engine or homologated electronic equipment, is capped at €483,000.
Crews must include at least one Silver or Bronze-rated driver. Line-ups with a Bronze driver have their own specific ranking: LMP2 Pro/Am.
The class at a glance
Closed-cockpit prototype
Category open to private teams only
Four manufacturers: Dallara, Oreca, Riley-Multimatic and Onroak
Engine: Gibson V8 4.2 litre naturally-aspirated
Output: approximately 375 kW
Minimum weight: 950 kg
Fuel tank: 65 litres
Single tyre manufacturer: Goodyear
More about the Duqueine Team
#30 – Oreca 07-Gibson – Doriane Pin / Julien Andlauer / Richard Verschoor
Duqueine Team has gradually become a regular in LMP2. A European Le Mans Series contender since 2018, the team founded in 2014 has already competed six times in the French endurance classic. Their best result so far was third place in 2023. The team headed by Gilles Duqueine has joined forces with R-ace GP to find the impetus it needs to reach the top. So far this season, the team has finished 11th in the 4 Hours of Barcelona and 10th in the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. At the wheel of the #30: Doriane Pin (Team Peugeot TotalEnergies development driver), Julien Andlauer (Porsche factory driver), and Richard Verschoor. By Melissa Warren
