Loïc Duval's pole-position lap in the Audi R18 e-tron at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans, completed in 3:22.349. The commentary tracks each corner of the Circuit de la Sarthe, from the Mulsanne Straight to Indianapolis and Arnage, explaining how the hybrid system harvests and deploys energy through braking zones.
So on board then with the man who set pole position in the nighttime qualifying session last night. Running very wide onto the entrance to the Dunlop Curve, the right-hander, then through the left of the Dunlop Chicane, hugging the curbs on the right, making sure you get the exit perfect on the run down through the Dunlop S's. This is where Tracy Krohn lost it yesterday in the first part of the practice session, and that car still being repaired. On the way out of the S's and dropping down now towards Ter Rouge. On the way through the right-hander, you blast past Past the poplars on the outside and then scream down. This is what so many drivers talk about, the Mulsanne Straight. Once upon a time, there were no chicanes. You'd run flat out at 240 miles an hour for around 50 to 60 seconds. Nowadays, it is broken up for safety reasons by these chicanes. And in the nighttime, this is where real driving comes into play. Now, this is the hybrid braking zone. For those of you who are not aware, this is a zone where the hybrid cars, the Audis and the Toyotas, can transmit energy recuperated under braking. Braking. They are limited to when they can do this for performance reasons, so that is one of the areas where they have to be careful. Of course, on the run down, hugging the right-hand side of the apex to prepare for the first part of the second chicane, which is a left-hander, making sure you've got plenty of line through. This is the third hybrid braking zone, the second chicane down the Molsanne Straight. Left, right, and left again, kissing the apex on the way out of the left-hander, and then once again down the long third part of this full-length Mulsanne Straight. Who cares if it's broken up by chicanes? It's still a fantastic spectacle. Then the drop down to the right-hander. This is braking zone 4 for the hybrids, and this is the Mulsanne Corner, a very tight square right. You use all the curb on the exit of the corner on the rundown from Mulsanne to Indianapolis. Now, this is where the qualifying session earlier was stopped by the number 40 Butzen Erikan Nissan. We lost it here, but Loïc Duval Duval, no such problems as he runs down towards the right flick. Through there he goes. And now he's got to start thinking about lifting off the throttle before braking. This is the braking zone, number 5 for the hybrids. Into the Indianapolis, a flowing left-handed corner. You need curb on the inside and the exit of the corners. And then down again towards Arnage, another square right-hander. And this is when things start to get a little bit more technical. You're not in a straight line anymore. Sweeping down towards a quick left flick as you approach the Porsche Curve. Stuff of legends, Steve McQueen et al., in the Le Mans 1970 movie. This is where it all kicked off in the film, and this is where it could kick off in the race. Braking Zone 6, the Porsche corners. Right, left, left, right. Very technical, tricky part of the course. The back end wants to step around, but just full throttle pretty much from this Audi as Loïc Duval sweeps through. Left, right, left, right, and then through the final quick left flick into the 7th The final one of the hybrid braking zones into the Ford Chicane, 2 left-rights will end the lap, and Loïc Duval did it in 3:22.349.
