Numerous incidents and red flags marked the first qualifying day for the Le Mans 24 Hours and after a shortened first qualifying session, Audi Sport Team Joest temporarily maintains grid positions five and six. However, it was bad news for the third Audi R18 e-tron quattro, following an accident in free practice, was not able to participate in the first qualifying session. which was unable to take part in the first qualifying session after Loïc Duval’s crash.
Last year’s winner Duval lost control of his Audi R18 e-tron quattro in the Porsche Corners at over 270 km/h and hit the track barrier at high speed. Thankfully, except for abrasions, the Audi driver was not injured.
“The accident looked horrible,” said Chris Reinke, Head of LMP at Audi Sport. “It speaks for the safety concept of the Audi R18 and the Le Mans prototypes that Loïc survived the enormous crash nearly uninjured. We’re relieved to see that he’s well, considering the circumstances.”
On Wednesday night, Audi Sport Team Joest began preparing a new car in the team garage so it could be ready for the second qualifying session at Le Mans on Thursday. Instead of Duval, who stayed in the hospital overnight under observation, Marc Gené will be starting for Audi.
The Spaniard has been part of the Audi Le Mans squad since 2011, and completed several track tests with the current Audi R18 e-tron quattro, but he was originally planned to run in the Le Mans 24 Hours in an LMP2 sports car with the JOTA team.
“The lap times we saw tonight are not very conclusive,” said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Marcel (Fässler) set a time in free practice that was two seconds below his qualifying time. Our cars aren’t optimally gripping to the track yet and have more potential than we were able to show today due to the special circumstances. The most important thing for the time being is that Loïc (Duval) is more or less well and can celebrate his 32nd birthday on Thursday.”
The grid positions for the 82nd running of the Le Mans 24 Hours will be decided on Thursday night.
