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“What a day for Porsche Penske Motorsport!” – says Roger Penske. “This year the world looks a lot brighter” after Estre takes pole at Le Mans

(Photo: Roger Jenkins)

Porsche Penske Motorsport took pole position for the 2024 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans after Kévin Estre lapped the 5.29 kms of the Circuit de la Sarthe in 3:24.634.

Team Owner Roger Penske was delighted to see his team take Penske’s first overall pole position for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“What a day for Porsche Penske Motorsport,” said Penske. “Last year we came to Le Mans and we weren’t quite up to speed. This year the world looks a lot brighter – that’s thanks to everyone in the team, the Porsche Motorsport staff and our strong partners. Kévin’s incredible lap gives us all another huge boost as we head into the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

(Photo: Roger Jenkins)

Managing Director of Porsche Penske Motorsport Jonathan Diuguid felt that Estre’s pole position went some way to relieving the pain of seeing two of its three entries fail to make the Hyperpole shoot-out in the previous day’s qualifying session.

“After our disappointment on Wednesday with only one car advancing to the top eight, today’s result was the perfect follow-up,” he said. “That also makes us the first to achieve pole positions in the Daytona 500, Indy 500 and Le Mans all in the same year.

“It’s one hell of an achievement! We’re now determined to turn the pole position into victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

The second Porsche 963 to make Hyperpole, the #12 Hertz Team Jota entry, suffered significant damage in an accident towards the end of the evening practice session following qualifying.

The team sourced a spare chasses and worked around the clock to have the car prepared for a shakedown on the airfield on the evening of Friday the 14th. The first time the rebuilt #12 Porsche 963 will turn a lap will be the warm-up session ahead of the main race.