The official photo of the 62 cars entered for the 24 Hours of Le Mans begins the countdown to the race
Test Day on 2 June is a vital part of the groundwork before the classic endurance race. Two sessions, morning and afternoon, offer competitors the opportunity to assess their cars in race conditions and to encounter the extraordinary circuit, which, being part public roads, is only open for official race sessions. Test Day performance demonstrates current form and is the first chance to size up the field. Drivers with no recent experience of the race must complete ten laps (five of them timed), having already undergone simulator training to familiarise themselves with the idiosyncrasies of the race and circuit. The sessions are open to race ticket holders and day passes are on sale at the gates.
Next week, drivers and cars head for Place de la République to undergo scrutineering and administrative checks in Le Mans city centre. On Tuesday 4 June, the Bugatti, the closed-off portion of the main 24 Hours circuit, hosts another preliminary track session for the last tweaks to settings before the practice and qualifying sessions on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June.The 24 Hours of Le Mans is not only one of the world’s best-known sporting events, its power of attraction also lies in its historic, cultural and musical aspects.
Schedule of race events :
14:30 – 19:00: Scrutineering, Place de la République in Le Mans city centre.
Monday 10 June
10:00 – 18:00: Scrutineering, Place de la République in Le Mans city centre.
18:00 – 18:30: Winners’ handprints ceremony
Tuesday 11 June
10:30 – 10:45: Drivers group photograph
17:00 – 18:30: Autograph sessions
Wednesday 12 June
10:00 – 15:00: Pit walk
16:00 – 20:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Practice Session
20:30 – 21:30: Road To Le Mans Practice Session 1
22:00 – 00:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Qualifying Session 1
Thursday 13 June
08:30 – 09:30: Road To Le Mans Practice Session 2
10:00 – 10:45: Ferrari Challenge Practice Session 1
11:25 – 12:10: Ferrari Challenge Practice Session 2
13:00 – 13:20: Road To Le Mans Qualifying Session 1
13:35 – 13:55: Road To Le Mans Qualifying Session 2
15:00 – 16:00: Ferrari Challenge Practice Session
17:30 – 18:25: Road To Le Mans Race 1
19:00 – 21:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Qualifying Session 1
22:00 – 00:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Qualifying Session 2
Friday 14 June
10:00 – 20:00: Pit walk
11:00: Final of the Le Mans ESports Series
17:00 – 18:30: Drivers Parade (Parade des Pilotes) in the city centre
Saturday 15 June 09:00 – 09:45: 24 Hours of Le Mans warm-up
10:15 – 11:00: Ferrari Challenge Race
11:30 – 12:25: Road To Le Mans Race 2
12:25 – 12:30: Le Mans Esports Series Podium
15:00: 87th 24 Hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans START
Sunday 16 June – 15:00: 87th 24 Hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans FINISH
Fringe Events
Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June
24 Heures Golf at the 24 Hours golf course – from 13:00 on Saturday 8 June
Tuesday 11 June
Les R’Hunaudières in Ruaudin 16:00-23:00;
Neuville dans la course, open-air cinema, Vieux Moulin in Neuville-sur-Sarthe, from 19:00
Wednesday 12 June
20:00 – Diva Faune in concert
Thursday 13 June
Arnage dans la course, place François Mitterand in Arnage, 09:00-17:00
20:00: Cock Robin in concert
Friday 14 June
Classic British Welcome, Saint-Saturnin, 09:00-17:00
Le Virage de Mulsanne, 2 avenue François Mitterand in Arnage, 09:00-16:00
21:00: DJ Loran set with RTL2
Saturday 15 June
20:00 – Dissident, then Franz Ferdinand in concert
Exhibitions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans museum: BMW – Art and Victory, and 100th anniversary of the Bentley victory
Monday 10 June: 10:00 – 19:00
Tuesday 11 June: 10:00 – 19:00
Wednesday 12 June: 10:00 – 22:00
Thursday 13 June: 10:00 – 22:00
Friday 14 June: 10:00 – 22:00
Saturday 15 June: 09:00 – 01:00
Sunday 16 June: 09:00 – 19:00