Track action gets underway at Le Mans!
The day has finally arrived as the LMP and GTE machinery will finally take to the track for this year’s rescheduled 24 Hours of Le Mans, which also forms round 7 of FIA WEC Season 8.
For the first time since the event’s inception back in 1923, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans will be staged behind closed doors as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the fact there will be no fans, the track action is set to be as fierce as ever with a brand-new Hyperpole qualifying format in place this year.
There will be three practice sessions today [Thursday], with the first to get underway at 10h00 CEST before a one hour break for lunch at 13h00. The drivers will then return to the circuit for three further hours of practice until 17h00, before the third and final practice session under darkness at 20h00 and lasting until midnight. Qualifying practice sessions will take place from 17h15 for 45 minutes to determine the six quickest cars in each class (24 in total) to go into Friday's brand-new Hyperpole.
One further free practice session will take place on Friday morning at 10h00 ahead of Hyperpole, which gets underway at 11h30. Hyperpole will determine the first six places on the grid for each category. The green flag for this year’s 24 hour race will be dropped by Carlos Tavares, CEO of Groupe PSA, at 14h30 CEST on Saturday.
Fifty-nine cars make up this year’s entry list, with a total of 177 drivers (171 men and 6 females). There will be 33 home drivers competing under the French flag, with a further 33 from the UK. In total, 27 different nationalities will compete in what is set to go down in history as the first ever Le Mans without fans.
Click HERE to view the provisional entry list.
Click HERE to find out where you can watch from home.
