LM P1

2011 24 Hours of Le Mans Pole Position #2 Audi R18

30 minutes before midnight Frenchman Benoit Treluyer in the #2 Audi R18 TDI clinched the top position for the 79th annual 24 Hours of Le Mans. Running on a set of used tires on his 21st lap of race simulation in the final qualifying session. This was the first pole position at Le Mans for Treluyer who will share driving responsibilities in the #2 Audi R18 with Marcel Fassler and Andre Lotterer. This is the sixth pole for Audi at Le Mans, but the first since 2006, the year Audi achieved the first victory int he world’s most famous endurance race with a diesel powered vehicle.

Despide being severely damaged during the Wednesday night qualifying session when the #1 Audi collided with LM GTE Am #60 Gulf AMR Middle East Aston Martin Vantage. The #1 Audi R18 TDI will start second for the 24 Hours after Romain Dumas set a time 0.061 seconds slower.The first 6 cars on the starting grid are separated by a mere 5 tenths of a second.

While attempting to move from the fifth place on the starting grid, Danish Le Mans record holder Tom Kristensen hit the track barrier in the “Tertre Rouge” corner, and remains in fifth position. The car was damaged in the off, but will be repaired in time for the start of the 24 Hour race.

Qualifying Results:

1: Audi R18 TDI #2 3:25:738

2: Audi R18 TDI #1 3:25:799

3: Peugeot 908 #9 3:26:010

4: Peugeot 908 #8 3:26:156

5: Audi R18 TDI #3 3:26:165

6: Peugeot 908 #7 3:26:272

7: Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Oreca #10 3:30:084

8: Lola Toyota #12 3:32:883

9: Pescarolo #16 3:33:066

10: Lola Toyota #13 3:34:573

The #8 Peugeot 908 HDi driven by  Stephane Sarrazin had risen to the top of the provisional pole position during the 2nd qualifying session Thursday evening, with a time of 3:26:156 and remained at the top of the provisional pole position for most of the later half of Thursday evening qualifying session. During the last 5 minutes of the qualifying session the #2 Audi R18 TDI driven by Marcel Fassler had a very clear lap with no traffic and was able to steal away the Provisional Pole Position, with a blazing fast time of 3:25:961. Fassler had enough time for one more lap, but choose not to continue on with another fast lap. Stephane Serrazin continued on with one final attempt to reclaim the top position but was unable to improve the time.

Andy Priaulx in the #56 BMW M3 GT crashed hard into the tires mid corner of the final chicane, half way though the qualifying session, damaging the car severely, after what had been a very fast few qualifying laps. Andy Priaulx appeared to be ok, and got out of the car on his own power, after nearly hitting TertreRougeTimes.com photographer Rusty Rae, seen in the video below wearing a black hat and Orange photo bib.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64wmU0C0CtY