We’re no strangers to media hyperbole. This, however, is one of those times where it is absolutely necessary. Kamui Kobayashi has smashed the Le Mans lap record on a flying lap in qualifying for this year’s running.
JUN 16th 2017
Video: Watch Kamui Kobayashi obliterate the Le Mans lap‑record
The Toyotas were already looking good and on track for their first ever win at Le Mans – after five valiant but ultimately ill-fated efforts – and this lap only serves to support any predictions. Watch, as Kobayashi dispatches La Sarthe with eye-watering pace, threading it around the assorted kinks, curves and crests that make it the iconic circuit that it is. Ride on board, and check the video isn’t on fast-forward, because he’s going that fast!
A 3:14.791 convincingly tops both the previous lap record for the current version of the circuit (3:16.887 by Neel Jani in 2015 in his Porsche 919) and the overall 3:14.8 lap record set by Hans Stuck in 1985 when the circuit had four fewer corners. Oh, the relentless march of progress!
So who’s your money on for overall honours in 2017? Porsche, or Toyota?
Photography courtesy of LAT Images
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