Allan McNish set the fastest time on the final lap of the first qualifying session for the Le Mans 24 Hours to take provisional pole position for the No. 1 Audi R15 ahead of tonight’s final qualifying session.

Audi spent the vast majority of the two-hour session working on setup and consistent pace over long runs, but McNish brought the No. 1 car into the pits in the last five minutes to bolt on a set a new tires and go for an outright time on a single-lap run.

McNish improved by more than two seconds to lower his best time from a 3m25.9s to a 3m23.6s and pinch provisional pole from Peugeot, who had sat atop the times for almost the entire session thanks to Franck Montagny’s early pace in the No. 8 car.

The Frenchman had been lapping in the 3m25s bracket in the first 20 minutes of the session and went on to lower his time to a 3m24.852s with around half an hour to run.

Montagny was a couple of seconds clear at the head of the field for much of the two hours, until the other Peugeots and Audis increased their pace in the final half hour.

Jean-Christophe Boullion set the third quickest time of the session in the No. 17 Pescarolo-run customer Peugeot, just two tenths shy of Montagny’s original benchmark and 1.2s slower than McNish.

Mike Rockenfeller posted a 3m26.3s lap in the No. 3 R15 and had been lapping at around the same pace as McNish before the Scotsman’s new tire run.

The other factory Peugeots filled fifth and sixth places, with Pedro Lamy and David Brabham setting the best times in the No. 7 and No. 9 cars respectively.

Anthony Davidson put the quickest Lola Aston Martin into eighth place, breaking into the 3m29s during his brief stint, while Danny Watts also ducked below 3m30s to put the Strakka Racing Ginetta-Zytek ninth. The No. 16 Pescarolo completed the top 10.

Each of the front running cars claimed not to be chasing laptimes, instead focusing on race setup and consistent pace over long runs.

Casper Elgaard set the best LMP2 class time of the first qualifying session in the Team Essex Porsche RS Spyder, more than two seconds quicker than Seiji Ara in the similar Team Goh car.

Just half a second separated the two works Corvettes at the head of the GT1 class, with the No. 63 car just edging out the No. 64. Both were two seconds clear of their nearest challenger, which was the Jetalliance Aston Martin.

Jorg Bergmeister set the fastest GT2 time of the session in the Flying Lizards Porsche, ahead of early session pace-setter Marc Lieb in the Felbermayr 911. The BMS Scuderia Italia F430 was the quickest of the Ferraris, one second off Bergmeister’s time.

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Pos # Class Drivers Team Car Time Gap To 1st
1.1LM P1D.Capello, T.Kristensen, A.McNishAudi Sport Team JoestAudi R15 TDI3:23.650
2.8LM P1S.Bourdais, F.Montagny, S.SarrazinTeam Peugeot TotalPeugeot 908 HDi FAP3:24.8521.2021.202
3.17LM P1J.C.Boullion, S.Pagenaud, B.TreluyerPescarolo SportPeugeot 908 HDi FAP3:25.0620.2101.412
4.2LM P1L.Luhr, M.Rockenfeller, M.WernerAudi Sport North AmericaAudi R15 TDI3:26.3521.2902.702
5.7LM P1C.Klien, P.Lamy, N.MinassianTeam Peugeot TotalPeugeot 908 HDi FAP3:26.9920.6403.342
6.9LM P1D.Brabham, M.Gene, A.WurzPeugeot Sport TotalPeugeot 908 HDi FAP3:27.0260.0343.376
7.3LM P1T.Bernhard, R.Dumas, A.PrematAudi Sport Team JoestAudi R15 TDI3:27.1060.0803.456
8.008LM P1A.Davidson, D.Turner, J.VerstappenAston Martin RacingLola B09/60-Aston Martin3:29.5222.4165.872
9.23LM P1P.Hardman, N.Leventis, D.WattStrakka RacingGinetta Zytek 09S3:29.7980.2766.148
10.16LM P1C.Tinseau, J.Barbosa, B.JouannyPescarolo SportPescarolo 01-Judd3:30.4660.6686.816
11.13LM P1A.Belicchi, N.Jani, N.ProstSpeedy Racing Team SebahLola B08/60-Aston Martin3:30.5520.0866.902
12.15LM P1C.Albers, C.Bakkerud, G.MondiniTeam KollesAudi R10 TDI3:31.1920.6407.542
13.007LM P1J.Charouz, T.Enge, S.MuckeAMR Eastern EuropeLola B09/60-Aston Martin3:32.4561.2648.806
14.10LM P1B.Senna, T.Ortelli, T.MonteiroTeam ORECA Matmut AIMORECA 01-AIM3:33.7081.25210.058
15.009LM P1S.Hall, P.Kox, H.PrimatAston Martin RacingLola B09/60-Aston Martin3:34.1760.46810.526
16.14LM P1N.Karthikeyan, A.Lotterer, C.ZwolsmanTeam KollesAudi R10 TDI3:34.4140.23810.764
17.11LM P1O.Panis, N.Lapierre, S.AyariTeam ORECA Matmut AIMORECA 01-AIM3:34.6860.27211.036
18.31LM P2C.Elgaard, K.Poulsen, E.CollardTeam EssexPorsche RS Spyder3:38.1103.42414.460
19.4LM P1J.Campbell-Walter, V.Ickx, R.IanettaCreation AutosportifCreation Judd3:39.2401.13015.590
20.12LM P1P.Ragues, F.Mailleux, D.AndreSignature PlusCourage LC70-Judd3:39.3260.08615.676
21.5LM P2S.Ara, K.Kunimoto, S.MaassenNAVI Team GohPorsche RS Spyder3:40.4341.10816.784
22.6LM P1L.Tomlinson, R.Dean, N.MooreTeam LNTGinetta Zytek 09S3:40.8560.42217.206
23.33LM P2J.Kane, B.Leuenberger, X.PompidouSpeedy Racing Team SebahLola B09/80-Judd3:43.7442.88820.094
24.40LM P2M.Amaral, O.Pla, G.SmithQuifel-ASM TeamGinetta Zytek 09S3:44.2980.55420.648
25.25LM P2T.Erdos, M.Newton, C.DysonRMLLola B09/86-Mazda3:44.4320.13420.782
26.35LM P2M.Lahaye, K.Ajlani, G.MoreauOAK RacingPescarolo 01-Mazda3:46.1821.75022.532
27.41LM P2K.Ojjeh, C.Y.Gosselin, P.PeterGAC Racing TeamZytek 07S3:46.3760.19422.726
28.30LM P2T.Biagi, M.Bobbi, A.PicciniRacing Box SRLLola B09/80-Judd3:46.4780.10222.828
29.32LM P2J.Barazi, S.Moseley, P.BennettBarazi EpsilonZytek 07S3:52.9566.47829.306
30.39LM P2H.Noda, J.de Pourtales, M.MarschKruse-Schiller MotorsportLola B07/46-Mazda3:54.2041.24830.554
31.63LM GT1J.Magnussen, J.O'Connell, A.GarciaCorvette RacingCorvette C6.R3:54.2300.02630.580
32.64LM GT1O.Gavin, O.Beretta, M.FasslerCorvette RacingCorvette C6.R3:54.7020.47231.052
33.26LM P2P.Bruneau, T.Greaves, M.RostaNBruichladdich BruneauRadical-AER3:55.3200.61831.670
34.66LM GT1L.Lichtner-Hoyer, A.Muller, T.GruberJetalliance Racing GmbHAston Martin DBR93:56.1260.80632.476
35.72LM GT1L.Alphand, P.Goueslard, S.GregoireLuc Alphand AventuresCorvette C6.R3:57.1701.04433.520
36.24LM P2J.Nicolet, R.Hein, J.F.YvonOAK RacingPescarolo 01-Mazda3:59.4502.28035.800
37.73LM GT1Y.Clairay, X.Maasen, J.JousseLuc Alphand AventuresCorvette C6.R4:01.2301.78037.580
38.80LM GT2S.Neiman, D.Law, J.BergmeisterFlying Lizard MotorsportPorsche 911 GT3 RSR4:03.2021.97239.552
39.77LM GT2M.Lieb, R.Lietz, W.HenzlerTeam Felbermayr-ProtonPorsche 911 GT3 RSR4:03.2320.03039.582
40.97LM GT2F.Babini, M.Malucelli, P.RubertiBMS Scuderia Italia SPaFerrari F430 GT4:04.2601.02840.610
41.76LM GT2P.Long, P.Pilet, R.NaracIMSA Performance MatmutPorsche 911 GT3 RSR4:05.4221.16241.772
42.78LM GT2G.Bruni, L.Perez Companc, M.RussoAF Corse SRLFerrari F430 GT4:05.4420.02041.792
43.99LM GT2C.Bouchut, Y.Lebon, M.RodriguesJMB RacingFerrari F430 GT4:05.8520.41042.202
44.89LM GT2A.Simonsen, D.Farnbacher, C.MontanariHankook Team FarnbacherFerrari F430 GT4:06.6120.76042.962
45.82LM GT2J.Melo, M.Salo, P.KafferRisi CompetizioneFerrari F430 GT4:06.9860.37443.336
46.92LM GT2R.Bell, A.Kirkaldy, T.SugdenJMW MotorsportFerrari F430 GT4:08.3661.38044.716
47.83LM GT2T.Krohn, N.Jonsson, E.van de PoeleRisi CompetizioneFerrari F430 GT4:08.7580.39245.108
48.70LM GT2H.Felbermayr Jr, H.Felbermayr Sr, M.LecourtIMSA Performance MatmutPorsche 911 GT3 RSR4:10.0141.25646.364
49.87LM GT2J.Cocker, P.Drayson, M.FranchittiDrayson RacingAston Martin Vantage4:10.0480.03446.398
50.85LM GT2T.Coronel, J.Janis, J.BleekemolenSnoras Spyker SquadronSpyker C8 Laviolette4:10.4620.41446.812
51.84LM GT2P.Ehret, L.Mansell, R.RusinovTeam ModenaFerrari F430 GT4:11.1920.73047.542
52.75LM GT2D.O'Young, P.Hesnault, P.KralevEndurance Asia TeamPorsche 911 GT3 RSR4:11.6700.47848.020
53.81LM GT2P.Dempsey, J.Foster, D.Kitch JrTeam Advanced EngineeringFerrari F430 GT4:13.9202.25050.270
54.96LM GT2M.McInerney, S.McInerney, M.VergersVirgo MotorsportFerrari F430 GT4:14.1140.19450.464
55.68LM GT1M.Apicella, A.Yogo, Y.YamagishiJLOCLamborghini Murcielago4:22.1588.04458.508