The Ferrari logo is seen in the headquarters as CEO Benedetto Vigna announces the company’s new long-term strategy, in Maranello, Italy, June 15, 2022. Photo taken June 15, 2022. ( REUTERS)
Ferrari crossed the front row to qualify for the centennial edition of the Le Mans . 24-hour sports car race on Thursday, with the number 50 car taking the Italian brand’s first place at the Sarthe circuit in 50 years.
Italy’s Antonio Fuoco was at the helm of the 499P he shares with Spaniards Miguel Molina and Denmark’s Nicklas Nielsen as Ferrari finished a six-column race in a row at champion Toyota’s Le Mans.
“It feels great, in front of all these people. Ferrari is back after 50 years and we’ve taken the pole position,” Fuoco told Eurosport broadcaster after the 30-minute hyperpole session.
“It was a really good lap, a really tough qualifying.”
The number 51 sister car, shared by Italy’s Alessandro Pier Guidi, Britain’s James Calado and former Formula 1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi, was 0.773 behind the three-minute, 22,982-second column lap.
The number eight Toyota hybrid from defending champions Sebastien Buemi of Switzerland, Brendon Hartley of New Zealand and Ryo Hirakawa of Japan passed the third qualifying round.
The Porsche 963 shared by Mathieu Jaminet of France, Felipe Nasr of Brazil and former British winner Nick Tandy made it through to the fourth qualifying round.
Toyota number seven by Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi, Britain’s Mike Conway and Argentina’s Jose Maria Lopez will be in fifth and ahead of the Cadillac driven by two-time New Zealand winners Earl Bamber and British Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook at the wheel.
The qualifying session was flagged red with 5 minutes and 15 seconds remaining when the number three Cadillac, driven by Le Mans-born Sebastien Bourdais, stopped at the first bend after catching fire.
Bourdais set the third fastest time but it was cleared for causing red flags and the car qualified in eighth place.
Kobayashi also lost his best lap, leaving Nasr in fourth place.
Ferrari’s final column at Le Mans was established by Italian Arturo Merzario in 1973, the last time the Italian marque joined as a factory in the top category.
Le Mans is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first 24-hour race in 1923.
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