Porsche take top three grid places at Le Mans

Updated 12/06/2015 at 09:26 GMT

Porsche swept the top three grid positions for the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race after a dry final qualifying at the Sarthe Circuit on Thursday.

Dumas, Lieb, Jani (Porsche #18) - 24 Hours of Le Mans 2015

Image credit: Porsche

Swiss driver Neel Jani, in the number 18 Porsche 919 hybrid car shared with France's Romain Dumas and Germany's Marc Lieb, took the pole position for Saturday's start with a best lap of three minutes 16.887 seconds set on Wednesday.

La Porsche number 18

Image credit: AFP

Australian Mark Webber, in the number 17 car, was second fastest while Force India F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg will line up third in the number 19.

Le Mans 24hr

Aston Martin unveils art car colours for 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours

10/06/2015 at 14:50

Champions Audi qualified fourth, fifth and sixth with the number seven car of last year's winners Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler fifth.

Hulkenberg to start third at Le Mans

Image credit: F1i

Porsche, who returned to Le Mans with a works team in 2014 for the first time in 16 years, are the most successful manufacturer with 16 titles.

Audi, who have won the race 13 times and are part of the Volkswagen Group with Porsche, are expected to challenge strongly during the race even if their rivals are quicker over a single lap.