Team Suzuki Press Office – September 18
Reigning World Endurance Champions Suzuki Endurance Racing Team put-in the fourth-fastest combined time in the opening practice and first qualifying session for the final round of the World Endurance Championship at Le Mans in France today.
The 13-time GSX-R-mounted champions – Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle, Erwan Nigon & reserve-rider Damian Cudlin – were less-than 1.4 seconds-away from provisional Pole, set by three-times Le Mans victors SRC Kawasaki, who topped the timesheets ahead of Honda Racing and Monster Energy YART.
After dominating today’s opening practice sessions, Suzuki’s leading Superstock team, Junior Team LMS riders Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson and Gregg Black, finished third; half-a-second from leaders Qatar Endurance Racing Team.
The second and final qualification continues tomorrow at the Le Mans-Bugatti circuit to determine the grid for Saturday’s 37th-running of the Le Mans World Endurance race.
Live timing tomorrow and Saturday-Sunday is available online on FIM-Live.com: FIM-LIVE.COM
Le Mans 24-Hour Qualifying 1: 1 SRC Kawasaki (Kawasaki) 1:37.273, 2 Honda Racing (Honda) 1:38.067, 3 Monster Energy YART (Yamaha) 1:38.449, 4 SERT – Vincent Philippe/ Anthony Delhalle/ Erwan Nigon - (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 1:38.641, 5 Yamaha Racing GMT 94 (Yamaha) 1:39.111. 9 Team R2CL – Gareth Jones/ Guy Martin/ Gwen Giabbani (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 1:40.977, 10 Team Motors Events April Moto – Gregory Fastre/ Michael Savary/ Jimmy Storrar (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 1:41.098.
