Jack Doohan Secures P3 for 24 Hours of Le Mans

Jack Doohan has secured a third-place starting position for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, placing the #24 Nielsen Racing Oreca in a prime position for the endurance classic. After a collective team effort to navigate the qualifying stages, Doohan’s pace in the final shootout nearly netted a front-row start.

Why it matters:

This result highlights the competitiveness of the Nielsen Racing outfit and Doohan's ability to perform under the high-pressure environment of the Le Mans Hyperpole. Starting in the top three provides a significant strategic advantage in managing traffic and maintaining pace during the early stages of the grueling 24-hour marathon, where track position is critical for early-race momentum.

The Details:

• The Path to P3: The result was a coordinated team effort. David Heinemeier-Hannson initially put the car 8th with a 3:37.665s, and Ed Pearson narrowly advanced the team to the final stage with a 3:35.140s.
• The Shootout: Doohan clocked a 3:33.510s in Hyperpole 2, holding the second position until the final seconds of the session.
• The Competition: Esteban Masson of Forestier Racing by Panis took pole position with a 3:32.855s, while Job van Uitert of IDEC Sport snatched P2 in a last-gap effort.
• Immediate Focus: With the grid settled, the team now shifts its attention to the critical one-hour night session and the final Saturday morning warm-up to fine-tune the car's balance for the endurance distance.

What's next:

While a top-three qualifying effort is a prestige achievement, the focus now pivots to endurance and reliability. Doohan and Nielsen Racing will prioritize night-driving consistency and fuel strategy, knowing that in a 24-hour race, raw qualifying speed is merely the foundation for a race defined by survival and tactical execution.