24H Le Mans: Countdown to test day has begun

This time next week the teams entered for the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be assembled in France in preparation for the official test day on Sunday, 9th June.

With much of the 14km track being made up of public roads, there is only one test day available to competitors, and it gives teams and drivers their first view of the track which will put them to the ultimate test on 22nd/23rd June.

Testing runs from 0900 – 1800 hours (with a break between 1300-1400 h) and is open to the race’s 56 entrants plus some special invitational cars. For example, there will be fourth Audi R18 e-tron quattro present to carry out specific Michelin tyre testing for 2014, plus two Formula Le Mans ORECAS from Team Endurance Challenge although these LMPC cars are not eligible for the 2013 race.

The ACO’s Garage 56 entry – aimed specifically at new technologies – will also be running for the first time and many will be looking forward to seeing the Green GT hydrogen-powered car.

In addition to the opportunity to gather set up data, the test day is mandatory for drivers and teams who have never before participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, such as the Lotus T128 in LMP2 or the Viper GTS-R in LMGTE Pro. For those drivers who have been away from Le Mans for more than three years, they too must take part in the test day regardless of their history with the race.

A full TEST DAY ENTRY LIST of the cars participating on Sunday is here, and before that all cars will be rigorously checked by the ACO’s scrutineers at the Circuit des 24 Heures, these checks taking place on Friday and Saturday 7th and 8th June.

WEC