Toyota’s Kamui Kobayashi took pole position for the 24 Hours of Le Mans during Thursday’s Hyperpole session, but reckons he could have gone even faster had it not been for a track limits infringement.
The Japanese driver took a second consecutive pole position in the Hyperpole format, after also coming out on top during the inaugural edition of the ACO’s new qualifying format during the 2020 edition of the event.
Kobayashi ultimately set the pace with a best time of 03:23:900 in his #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, which was enough to beat out team-mate Brendon Hartley and rivals Alpine and Glickenhaus.
“To get the first Hypercar pole position is great,” Kobayashi said afterwards. “We came here with our new GR010 HYBRID for the first time and we have been constantly making adjustments to improve it. The team did a fantastic job to prepare a car which can achieve that lap time.”
“I could have gone even quicker but I had a track limits penalty which was a pity. To be fastest on one lap isn’t enough; we have focused on preparing our car to be successful in the race.”
“We’ve had a few pole positions here on our car over the last years and not won the race so we know this is no guarantee. The 24 hours are long and we always need a bit of luck.”
During the post-race press conference, Kobayashi was pressed on his lap time as the 03:23:900 pole time was considerably quicker than the 03:30 lap times that the ACO touted when the Hypercar formula was announced.
When asked, Kobayashi quipped:
“So now, sounds like we need a change of category again, we have to change the regulations to be slowed down I guess. Because we shouldn’t be so fast.”
Hartley ‘kicking himself’ after double upshift
Kobayashi’s team-mate, Brendon Hartley, was 0.295s behind in second place to ensure a front-row lockout for the Japanese manufacturer for the first edition of Le Mans under Le Mans Hypercar regulations.
After the session, Hartley admitted that he had made a mistake on his fastest lap, accidentally pulling a double upshift and losing time.
“First of all it felt amazing to drive the GR010 HYBRID with low-fuel, new tyres and the sun going down into the night,” said Hartley. “The car felt great, and a big compliment to the team for preparing it so well after Kazuki’s small moment in practice.
“Congratulations to Kamui who did a fantastic lap. I’m kind of kicking myself because on my fastest lap I made a mistake. I shifted two gears at once up to seventh and lost a bit of time.”
“We definitely had a chance to get pole because the cars were very equal. On my second lap I had traffic when I was going quickly so we had the ingredients to do it.’
“There is a little bit of disappointment but still I am pleased to be on the front row and happy for car #7.”
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