Michelle Gatting, the Iron Dames, expressed concerns about the behavior of some Hypercar drivers during the qualifying session of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. She described their maneuvers as “shocking” and called for more respect from Hypercar drivers towards GT3 during the race. Gatting emphasized the importance of respect among drivers and highlighted the three different races happening between LMP2, LMGT3, and Hypercars. She believes that Hypercar drivers need to be more considerate of their competitors.
The FIA World Endurance Championship has witnessed several incidents between Hypercars and LMGT3 machines this season. One notable incident was when Kevin Estre in Porsche #6 963 forced the Akkodis ASP team’s Lexus RC F LMGT3 off the track in Qatar. Surprisingly, the stewards blamed Kimura for the incident. Another incident occurred when Earl Bamber in Cadillac V-Series.R #2 caused a red flag in the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, resulting in retirement for both the Caddy and the BMW. These incidents highlight the need to manage traffic and avoid collisions, especially with the increasing number of participants at Le Mans.
Gatting observed the Hypercars during the Le Mans testing and practice sessions and believes that some drivers in the top class need to exercise more caution. She expressed frustration with their aggressive maneuvers and emphasized that GT cars cannot simply disappear to accommodate the Hypercars. Gatting believes that all drivers should be able to share the track without crashing into and disrespecting each other. She called for more respect from specific Hypercars and highlighted the limitations of GT cars in maneuvering.
Rahel Frey, teammate of Gatting in Iron Dames, acknowledged that the problem arises when Hypercars return to the racing line too quickly in braking zones. However, she mentioned that teams have implemented various tools to help LMGT3 drivers manage traffic, such as camera systems and extra observers. Frey emphasized the importance of communication between drivers and the availability of traffic information to ensure safe driving. She believes that at Le Mans, with its straights and ample space, overtaking traffic should not be a significant problem as long as the drivers respect each other.
Overall, Gatting and Frey raised concerns about the driving standards of some Hypercar drivers and emphasized the need for respect and caution on the track. They believe that all drivers should be able to coexist without putting each other in danger and that measures are being taken to effectively manage traffic.
