93 JENSEN Mikkel (dnk), MULLER Nico (swi), VERGNE Jean-Eric (fra), Peugeot TotalEnergies, Peugeot 9×8 #93, action during the FIA World Endurance Championship Prologue 2024, from February 24 to 26, 2024 at the Losail International Circuit in Lusail, Qatar – Photo by Germain Hazard / DPPI
Nico Muller, driving the Peugeot 9X8 #93, leads in the first hour of the 1812km race in Qatar, after starting in sixth position on the grid.
The Swiss driver had a good start when the race began, quickly moving up to third position. Meanwhile, Miguel Molina, in the Ferrari 499P #50, took the lead from pole-sitter Michael Christensen in the Porsche 963 #5.
Mike Conway, in the Toyota GR010 Hybrid #7, dropped to seventh position starting from the front row of the grid.
Muller managed to stay close to Christensen during the first hour of the race. As the leading Hypercars encountered LMGT3 traffic for the first time, Muller took advantage and overtook the Danish driver to secure second position.
He then set his sights on Molina in the lead. It didn’t take long for Muller to catch up and pass the Spaniard, taking over the race lead. This is the last race for the Peugeot 9X8 without a rear wing, as the « new » car will be introduced in Imola.
Molina made an early pit stop and dropped to sixth position. After the pit stop cycle, Laurens Vanthoor is currently in second place in the Porsche 963 #6, about five seconds behind Muller, with Christensen in third. The two JOTA cars are in fourth and fifth place, with Jenson Button in the Porsche 963 #38 JOTA and Norman Nato in the sister car #12.
In the LMGT3 category, Alex Malykhin leads in the Manthey Pure Rxcing #92 Porsche 911 GT3.R. Ian James is in second place driving the Heart of Racing €27 Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3, and Thomas Flohr is in third place in the AF Corse #54 Ferrari 296 GT3. Pole-sitter Tom van Rompuy is currently in sixth place in the TF Sport #81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, as he lost positions early on.
Van Rompuy initially held the lead from pole position, but it became clear early on that Malykhin and Mateu behind him were faster. They managed to overtake him by taking advantage of the Hypercars passing the GTs.
Malykhin, after overtaking Van Rompuy, built a 20-second advantage over James, with Flohr about six seconds behind in third place. Ahmad Al Harthy is currently in fourth place driving the Team WRT #46 BMW M4 GT3, while Yasser Shahin is in fifth place in the Manthey #91 Porsche EMA.
