WEC : BMW Claims Pole Position: Who Can Keep Up in the Race?

BMW secures its first pole position in team history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2026, demonstrating impressive LMDh dominance in qualifying. The question remains whether the superior LMDh cars can maintain their performance in the race or if the LMH models, traditionally known for their racing speed, can catch up.

BMW motorsport director Andreas Roos warns against jumping to conclusions and emphasizes the importance of consistent race pace. "We hope to show a reasonable pace in the race," says Roos. Toyota technical director David Floury expresses criticism of the qualifying session, which he describes as a clear two-class show. The fastest Cadillac reaches 344.1 km/h on the Mulsanne straight, while the best Toyota is more than three km/h slower.

The discrepancy between the LMDh and LMH vehicles is due to the secret "platform BoP," which aims to level the playing field between the concepts. Toyota, starting in 14th and 15th positions, finds itself in a difficult situation and must overcome several challenges in the early hours of the race.