Earl Bamber to start from two on 24 Hours of Le Mans grid

The Cadillac Hertz of Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais and Jenson Button, in action during qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. June 11, 2025.
Photo:
AFP
New Zealander Earl Bamber will start from two on the grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, with Cadillac locking out the front row in qualifying.
Britain's Alex Lynn secured pole position, setting a best time of three minutes 23.166 seconds in the number 12 Team Jota Cadillac at the Sarthe circuit Bamber putting the sister 38 car alongside and 0.167 slower.
Bamber has won the race twice, in 2015 and 2017 with Porsche.
Fellow Kiwi Brendon Hartley, who has won the event three times, will start from 10 on the grid after team-mate Sebastien Buemi locked up the Toyota Gazoo car and drove into the gravel and was not able to finish the qualifier
Lynn shares his car with compatriot Will Stevens and Frenchman Norman Nato while Bamber's teammates are 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button and French four-times Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais.
"I can't tell you how much I wanted this," said Lynn, who missed out on pole last year by a mere 0.138, over the team radio. "One tenth last year hurt a lot.
"I'm truly honoured to be able to put in a performance like that in front of everyone and deliver for Cadillac in the way they deserve," he added after getting out of the car.
"This is a magical circuit and this is a special feeling. I can't describe it. We will enjoy this tonight, have a good sleep and re-set."
GM-owned Cadillac are the first American marque to take outright pole at Le Mans since Ford in 1967.
The number five Porsche Penske was third fastest, after threatening to take pole, with France's Julien Andlauer, Denmark's Michael Christensen and France's Mathieu Jaminet.
The number 15 BMW qualified in fourth place with Belgian Dries Vanthoor, Swiss-Italian Raffaele Marciello and Danish former F1 driver Kevin Magnussen.
Defending champions Ferrari, outright winners for the past two years, had Italian Antonio Fuoco, Denmark's Nicklas Nielsen and Spaniard Miguel Molina in seventh place in last year's winning car number 50.
The 93rd edition of the race starts on Sunday at 2am NZT.
- Reuters/RNZ Sport

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

RNZ News

7 hours ago

• RNZ News

Chiefs star Quinn Tupaea aims for Super Rugby Pacific title, All Blacks recall

HOLD FOR FRIDAY Quinn Tupaea was just a youngster, when the Chiefs won back-to-back titles in 2012-13. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport Super Rugby Pacific Grand Final Crusaders v Chiefs Kickoff: 7,05pm Saturday, 18 June Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch Live blog updates on RNZ Quinn Tupaea was a Chiefs fan before he was a player and he'd like nothing more than to help the franchise win another Super Rugby title. Twelve years have passed since they last lifted the trophy and they've suffered the heartbreak of defeat in the past two finals. They take on the Crusaders in Saturday night's title decider in Christchurch, where the hosts have never lost a playoff game . The Chiefs finished as top qualifiers for the post-season and midfielder Tupaea played a big role in their success, scoring several tries and making big defensive plays for his side. He said winning a Super Rugby title would be a career highlight. "That's the dream, that's the goal," Tupaea said. "Born in bred in Hamilton, I grew up a Chiefs fan, so to bring a championship to the city and to this region would mean the world to myself and this team." He was just a youngster, when the Chiefs won back-to-back titles in 2012-13, but Tupaea, 26, remembers them well. "I was 12 and 13," he said. "I was at those finals, sat in the family zone on the left side of the stadium and have some great memories with my family. "Looking back on it now, that's the feeling I want to bring to our fans and win a championship for our region. "There's been a lot of heartbreak for our fans the last 4-5 years, not getting over the line. We have very passionate fans and we get great crowds every week, so to bring the title to Hamilton for our fans, that would mean a lot." Tupaea's form in the Chiefs midfield has been impressive this season, but he's quick to credit his team for helping him produce consistent performances. "I've been showing up to work every day, wanting to get better, and my success this year has been on the back of of a successful team as well," he said. "It's a lot easier to play behind a good pack, and good nine and 10 [halfback and first-five] combo." "I'm enjoying my rugby and pretty happy." Quinn Tupaea's Super Rugby Pacific form may earn him an All Blacks recall. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Tupaea's played so well, he could earn an All Blacks recall on Monday, when the squad to play France in three tests in July is named. He hasn't featured for the All Blacks since 2022, when he suffered a serious knee injury against the Wallabies. While firmly focused on the task at hand with the Chiefs, he doesn't conceal his desire to return to the national side. "I would obviously like to get recalled into the [All Blacks] squad," Tupaea said. "It's a goal I set myself every year. "It's a place I want to be playing and it's the team I want to be in - it's a no-brainer. I'd like to hear my name called on Monday." Before then, the Chiefs must overcome history and end the Crusaders 31-match unbeaten run in home playoffs to win Saturday's Super Rugby Pacific final. Tupaea said that would make victory all the sweeter. "That's it - 31 and one, thank you very much!" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News

14 hours ago

• RNZ News

NRL: Wounded Penrith Panthers still dangerous proposition for NZ Warriors

Penrith celebrate their fourth NRL crown last season. Photo: Photosport Warriors v Panthers Kickoff: 5pm Sunday 21 June Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors fans should not be fooled by the prospect of a depleted and seemingly out-of-form Penrith Panthers side arriving at Go Media Stadium on Saturday. The four-time defending NRL champions have not played in Auckland since 2019 - before their premiership run began - but have so far struggled in their bid for a fifth straight crown, currently languishing one point outside the playoff picture in ninth with five wins, seven losses and a rare draw. A five-game losing streak set them on their heels early and, as recently as four weeks ago, they sat bottom of the table, but back-to-back wins and a bye week have considerably boosted their hopes. "Obviously, it's not where they want it to be, that's pretty clear," Warriors coach Andrew Webster observed. "They normally have more wins on the board, but you can see they're building to something. "They know when to put the foot down and compete at a high level when it matters. I think you'll definitely see them challenge in this competition. "They're a strong club that are very proud and they'll find a way to get back to where they want to be." Coach Ivan Cleary has ruled out his five State of Origin stars for this fixture, lamenting a shortage of flights available to bring son Nathan, captain Isaah Yeo, fullback Dylan Edwards, winger Brian To'o and second-rower Liam Martin from Perth to Auckland with time to sufficiently recover. "The Origin players won't be playing because they can't," Cleary said. "I don't think it's fair that we can't play... we should be able to make that decision. Through flights, we just can't get them there." The Origin window has often been a difficult period for Penrith, but if the Warriors needed a reminder to never underestimate their rivals, it came in July 2017, when they travelled to the foot of the Blue Mountains to face a seemingly impotent line-up without its star-studded halves combination of Nathan Cleary and James Maloney. Instead, the visitors were shredded 36-4 by rookie Jarome Luai, who scored a try double and kicking 6/8 off the tee, for a personal haul of 20 points in just his second first-grade appearance. These days, Luai is also an Origin veteran, but has taken his talents to Wests Tigers. Only Roger Tuivasa-Sheck remains of that Warriors side, but ironically, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, James Fisher-Harris and Wayde Egan of the current squad turned out for Penrith that night. That encounter also somehow fell between the gaps in Webster's career, somewhere between his first stint at Mt Smart and his move to the Panthers, as Ivan Cleary's assistant. "That's a long time ago, I wasn't at either club - I was at the Tigers probably," he recalled. "I was living in Penrith and probably went to the game." Ivan Cleary (right) won't have son Nathan to steer the ship on Saturday. Photo: AAP/ Webster and Cleary have forged a strong relationship over the years, from the time they first hooked up at Wests, then a two-year period together at Penrith. Webster helped the Panthers to the first two titles of their dynasty, before returning across the Tasman to the Warriors with Cleary's recommendation for the top job. This will be their fourth head-to-head meeting, with Cleary ahead 2-1, but the Warriors took the most recent victory at 'Magic Round' in Brisbane last year, when their own revamped line-up shocked the titleholders with a late converted try to fullback Taine Tuaupiki. Webster admitted the significance of meeting his old club and mentor probably wasn't as strong as it once was. "Early on, the first couple of times you do it, you look into it a bit," he said. "Still got some fond memories and some people there I've got a lot of respect for, particularly Ivan, but that's kind of dwindled now. "They're the ex team, and you've got to go out and win. There are two points up for grabs and we're motivated to get better at what we want to do. "I'm just glad that the fans get the champions at our stadium." Ivan Cleary. Photo: Photosport Both teams are coming off a bye week and both have lost coming off their previous byes this season. The Warriors barely fired a shot in the first 40 minutes of a 42-14 defeat to Melbourne Storm in April, while the Panthers dropped a real headscratcher 25-6 against Newcastle Knights three weeks ago. Sitting third on the table, the Warriors produced probably their best performance of the season to vanquish Cronulla Sharks 40-10 two weeks ago, but lost an opportunity to build on any momentum from that outing. "We've got a chance to build on it now," Webster insisted. "It only seems like the other day we played, not like a month ago or six weeks ago. "We've still got an opportunity to build on what we did." The Warriors focused on themselves to start the week, but likely turned their attention towards their opponents nearer to gametime. "Their defence is very aggressive," Webster said. "Their line speed, they go after you, so you've got to make sure you earn your way out of trouble - we've got to have a hard edge about us there. "You have to make sure you have your own backyard in order, earning plenty of momentum with the ball and defending well. "If you start watching everyone and wondering what to do, you start losing focus on yourselves." Meanwhile, Webster has resisted the temptation to name Cleary's youngest son, Jett - born in Auckland during his dad's tenure with the Warriors and now back playing for the club's U21 side - for a surprise NRL debut against his father's team. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News

18 hours ago

• RNZ News

East Coast's Pekatahi Bridge worse than Third World

WozHiab transportation operator Warren Sherborne says deck conditions of the Pekatahi Bridge are shaking his loads to bits regardless of how slowly he drives. Photo: Troy Baker Eastern Bay transportation operators are "ropable" about the surface of the Pekatahi Bridge. The 100-year-old, single-lane bridge is on the main State Highway 2 route between the Port of Tauranga and the East Coast and Gisborne. Warren Sherborne who operates WozHiab says the condition of the bridge has become "critical" despite frequent closures for works. "They keep on shutting this bridge down but make no improvement," he said. Sherborne frequently transports portable buildings to Ōpōtiki and the East Coast. "It's like sending your little transportable home through an earthquake. It's just ridiculous. "They're quite fragile," he said of some of his loads. "The bridge is rattling the absolute living crap out of them. We're idling across the bridge in the lowest gear, taking up many phases [of the traffic lights] because we're trying to look after our loads." Having operated the business for five-and-a-half-years, he said he had never seen the bridge in a worse state than now. "At the moment this is just insane. Their latest bridge shuts [during April] have been pointless. The boards are indented now." He expressed fears for the safety of loads. "What if one of our loads was dislodged and came off after that bridge in transit and hurt someone?" He also feared for the effect heavy vehicles vibrating across bumps on the bridge would have on the foundations, likening it to a 40 tonne plate compactor going across the bridge. He said he was reporting the issue to the road transport forum Ia Ara Aotearoa - Transporting New Zealand, of which he is a member. The asphalt over wooden boards on the deck of the Pekatahi Bridge begins to deteriorate within days of undergoing repairs Photo: Troy Baker Robert Monk, from Robert Monk Transport which he said was carting as many as 30 loads a day of export kiwifruit from the Eastern Bay to the Tauranga port, said the bridge deck had gone "beyond a joke". "We're getting shook to pieces on that bridge even though the guys are going slow." He had just pulled a stainless steel screw out of one of his truck's tyres yesterday which he said was just the most recent of many. Recently, he had to pay $1200 for a call out when one of his trucks had a flat tyre from one of the screws. "I'm only a little company but I pay in excess of $1.5 million a year in road users' tax. It's unacceptable. "I'm just ropable. It's costing us a lot of money, and a lot of other transport operators. This stainless steal screw head Robert Monk pulled from one of his truck tyres on Thursday morning is just the latest of many. Photo: Supplied "It is a disgrace," he said. "The roads I travel on, when in the Philippines, are far superior to this, and the Philippines is a so-called Third World country. What does that say about New Zealand?" New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has said Pekatahi Bridge is not on its End of Life Bridge Register for replacement because the timber and steel sub-structure was in good condition. Design work was underway for a full deck replacement. However, construction was subject to funding and the existing 2024-27 National Land Transport Plan budget was currently oversubscribed. Bridge replacements were prioritised according to the age and condition of the bridge and suitability for current traffic volumes. Pekatahi Bridge did not rate as highly as similar bridges across New Zealand. NZTA planned to shut the bridge for further repairs during the upcoming school holidays, between 30 June and 4 July. Dom Kalasih, chief executive of industry association Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, told the Beacon the industry had real concerns about how works were being carried out on the bridge. Every repair done to date lasted only a matter of days before it started to fail again and in only a matter of weeks it was as bad as it was before, he said. Doing this several times a year looks like false economy, not to mention the additional freight costs related to the detour are in the order of $100,000 every day. "On average it serves over 10,000 vehicles every day, of which typically nearly 1000 each day are trucks moving goods and freight. The communities are heavily reliant on this connection and for NZTA to think that just because there's a 20-minute detour available this is no longer seen as a priority is incredibly difficult to fathom. "NZTA's new approach is not what our country needs, particularly when productivity improvements are so important to our economy's recovery." A heavy vehicle bumping its way across the Pekatahi Bridge surface on Wednesday. Photo: Troy Baker East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick agreed the situation was "deeply frustrating for everyone". "I met with NZTA about this on Tuesday and learned there were three areas they were working on." Short term these were regular maintenance each school holidays to maintain the surface. In the medium term, deck replacement. Longer term, assessing the future of the bridge alongside the necessity for a second Whakatane crossing via the 2027 Regional and National Land Transport Plans. "I impressed upon NZTA the need to evaluate whether spending $12-$14 million on resurfacing the bridge is really the most cost-effective option when it will still leave a one-lane bridge with complicated surface requirements as the main heavy traffic and regional traffic route through the district. "Surely it is time to re-assess a number of components, heavy traffic requirements, the combined councils' spatial and growth planning, which will see this route used more and more, the need to plan and prepare for a new roading project for Whakatane before the traffic volumes reach a stand still, and the economic viability of the region and those of its neighbouring regions who use this route to transport export product to the Port of Tauranga and around the North Island. "As an example you only need to travel the Waioeka Gorge a few times as I do, to realise the amount of heavy traffic travelling north from Gisborne for stock, Leaderbrand vegetables, citrus, products and services to understand the necessity of this piece of infrastructure." "I am determined to keep pushing on these issues - I want people to keep sending me stories and photos. I forward them all to NZTA and it really is making a difference." LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.