Rast Believes There’s More Pace to Come from BMW

Photo: Charly Lopez/DPPI

Rene Rast believes there’s more pace still to come from the pair of Team WRT BMW M Hybrids heading into Hyperpole for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, believing that a pole run could even be possible.

The German, in the FIA World Endurance Championship points-leading No. 20 entry, was fourth quickest in Wednesday evening’s qualifying session, with teammate Kevin Magnussen sixth aboard the sister No. 15 BMW.

Speaking with assembled reporters, including Sportscar365, on Thursday morning, Rast revealed that he was set to record the quickest time in the session until he had a brake lock-up at Arnage, which was then followed by a track limits violation.

“I was a little bit surprised because in the other races, like Imola and Spa, on a single lap, we didn’t look that competitive as the last years, he said.

“But obviously I’m very happy with the result.

“I was on a good lap and just had a lock-up. The single lap [pace] could have been even better.

“P4 is what we needed. We just needed to clear three cars, so it was decent.”

When asked if he thinks they could have a chance for pole, Rast said: “I think so, yes.”

He added:  “On my lap which I did not complete because I had a lock-up, I was probably four-tenths faster than my actual lap. It would have been enough for P1 in Q1.

“Maybe the others still have something to come. I don’t know. I think the car is fast for qualifying. For the race run we need to see.

“We will do some longer runs in FP3 now to see where we stand.”

BMW M Motorsport director Andreas Roos said he was left surprised at how close the Hypercar field was following Wednesday’s qualifying session.

“I think the first [eleven] cars were within one second,” he told Sportscar365. “In the end, it’s super nice to see that there are a lot of manufacturers involved.

“I think for us, from BMW’s side, we were super happy with the result yesterday in qualifying, having both cars in the top-six.

“It’s encouraging but we also know that the qualifying result is not what counts. It’s for sure always nice to be in the mix and to have the possibility to fight for a good result, also in qualifying.

“But the whole week, from the pre-test, we were not concentrating on single lap times; this was never our focus.

“Still, it’s nice to see the car is also competitive on one lap [pace].”

Roos, meanwhile, downplayed that any extra effort will go into making a run for pole this evening.

“Maybe, you never know,” he said on their pole chances. “Two years ago, Dries was already quickest in qualifying. Never say never but it’s not our main focus to be on pole here.

“If it happens, we’ll for sure take it.”

Rast: Race Will Be Like “Qualifying Every Lap”

With what appears to be a closer-than-ever level of competition in Hypercar at Le Mans, Rast reckons that the race will be an all-out sprint contest.

“It’s going to be a sprint race from the first lap; it’s going to be like qualifying every lap,” he said.

“I think it’s just about staying on track, having no penalties and damage, and the car needs to stay alive for 24 hours.

“That’s not only for us but it’s for everybody.

“The field is so close this year that everybody is within a half-second or second, the first ten [cars], let’s say, so it’s going to be a sprint race.

“Whoever makes the least mistakes and has a car that’s most reliable will in the end win.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John