Quelle surprise...

[Great Dane]

The Drivers' Parade is officially off... "organisers threw in the sponge" which I read as cancelled

[gt6]

I thought that was announced weeks ago due to fact drivers will be otherwise occupied on friday

[Great Dane]

Organisers said c-19

[Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35]

I suspect it may be a case of making things easier for the ACO. With the Drivers Parade cancelled, they don't have to worry about the periphery events which may scupper the main event. Also, there's the possibility of ambulance chasers who may claim that folk got the '19 at the Drivers Parade and so on.

However, I think a ton of folk will still head into the city on the Friday. I've been to 4 Drivers Parades and I never paid any attention to what was going on, many of us were only interested in a) getting a table, b) getting beer and c) locating a toilet.

Edited by Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 on Wednesday 8th July 20:48

[gt6]

In case you had not realised, on friday you will be watching the quali and hyperpole, what the hell is the point of going to le mans and ignoring the racing.

[Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35]

gt6 said:

In case you had not realised, on friday you will be watching the quali and hyperpole, what the hell is the point of going to le mans and ignoring the racing.

In case you had not realised, the hyperpole finishes at 12pm. After that it's the Porsche stuff till 6.30pm...

So what the hell are you talking about?

[gt6]

So there is stuff happening at the track, why go into town. Watch the cars, put the BBQ on eat and drink.

[LM240]

Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 said:

gt6 said:

In case you had not realised, on friday you will be watching the quali and hyperpole, what the hell is the point of going to le mans and ignoring the racing.

In case you had not realised, the hyperpole finishes at 12pm. After that it's the Porsche stuff till 6.30pm...

So what the hell are you talking about?

Think I’ve done qualifying only once in the past. I follow qualifying, but it is the race that is really what matters. Your qualifying position (other than a guide to form) is hardly crucial. ‘Hyperpole’ does nothing to add to the excitement.

Friday is the night in our village toasting the Le Mans Gods! A lovely meal and drinks into the night. It won’t be altered for qualifying on the Friday this year either.

Even with qualifying finishing early, I understand the reason for not holding the drivers parade. I don’t see the numbers coming to make it worth it and there’s this pandemic thing in the news lately. It will be hard enough justifying racegoers attendance let alone some big gathering in the town center.

I’ll just be happy for a race and to be able to be there to watch it and enjoy the usual French culture.

[Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35]

gt6 said:

So there is stuff happening at the track, why go into town. Watch the cars, put the BBQ on eat and drink.

I suspect around 5pm, or so, we'll head off into town for a few.

Edited by Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 on Wednesday 8th July 21:48

[wsn03]

So what time does everything WEC finish on Friday?
Is there not qualifying late into the night?

That would work for me. I like to sit in the Grandstand late into Thursday night, then Friday evening head south for dinner.

[LM240]

wsn03 said:

So what time does everything WEC finish on Friday?
Is there not qualifying late into the night?

That would work for me. I like to sit in the Grandstand late into Thursday night, then Friday evening head south for dinner.

1200 I think.

[Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35]

wsn03 said:

So what time does everything WEC finish on Friday?
Is there not qualifying late into the night?

That would work for me. I like to sit in the Grandstand late into Thursday night, then Friday evening head south for dinner.

12pm

https://www.lemans.org/en/program/agenda/1371

EDIT: oops...LM240 beat me to it

Edited by Powerfully Built PSC Director - Outside IR35 on Thursday 9th July 10:14

[gt6]

Just had another email from the ACO it appears that scrutineering on the Wednesday inside the circuit will not be open to the public, As we will hopefully already be inside the circuit not sure how that will work.

[wsn03]

Thanks chaps - so middle of the day!?!?
This is perfect, we can drive to Mulsanne (a first for me) to watch in the morning, then do something interesting with the afternoon before heading out for dinner in the evening.

Be tempted to go into town on the tram, though I'm planning to take the whole 14 or so coming next year to Old Town. Maybe spend the afternoon at the campsite just chilling - never done that before

[Vette_1978]

gt6 said:

Just had another email from the ACO it appears that scrutineering on the Wednesday inside the circuit will not be open to the public, As we will hopefully already be inside the circuit not sure how that will work.

I'd presume they'd just do this on the main straight, from memory when we went to scrutineering they only have a few tents up where they do the checks and wheel cars from one to the next, then into an area for the team pictures. So assume all they'd do is prevent access to any area where this is taking place or is visible from.

The fewer opportunities for people congesting together the better, so makes sense. We usually arrive Wednesday for first beer and first practice, so will have to come up with another plan - wine, beer, cigars - done.

[gt6]

Sounds like a plan but just add the BBQ

[WhiteBaron]

gt6 said:

Just had another email from the ACO it appears that scrutineering on the Wednesday inside the circuit will not be open to the public, As we will hopefully already be inside the circuit not sure how that will work.

We camp in MB, they usually have a circuit gate open so just ride/scoot/walk down pit lane from the ford chicane on the monday/ tuesday straight into pits

[lowdrag]

Scrutineering will exclude the public, it was stated. As regards the Drivers Parade that was announced (and I put it up here) nearly two weeks ago in the paper, but only given the official stamp yesterday. No side events at all, with Mulsanne and St Saturnin cancelled some time back. This going to be a race for the purists I feel. No ferris wheel and amusements, no films, in fact just beer and racing.

[Great Dane]

Wednesday 16th September:
09:30 - 18:00 Administrative Checks and Scrutineering
(Circuit – no public access)

Thursday 17th September:
08:30 - 09:30 Road to Le Mans Free practice 1
10:00 - 13.00 Les 24 Heures du Mans Free Practice 1
14:00 - 17:00 Les 24 Heures du Mans Free Practice 2
17:15 - 18:00 Les 24 Heures du Mans Qualifying
18:30 - 19:00 Road to Le Mans Free Practice
20:00 - 00:00 Les 24 Heures du Mans Free Practice 3

Friday 18th September:
08:30 - 08:50 Road to Le Mans Qualifying 1
09:10 - 09:30 Road to Le Mans Qualifying 2
10:00 - 11:00 Les 24 Heures du Mans Free Practice 4 1
1:30 - 12:00 Les 24 Heures du Mans Hyperpole
13:00 - 13:45 Porsche Carrera Cup Free Practice 1
14:15 - 15:10 Road to Le Mans Race 1
15:45 - 16:30 Porsche Carrera Cup Free Practice 2
17:30 - 18:30 Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying

Saturday 19th September:
09:15 - 10:00 Porsche Carrera Cup Race
10.30 - 10:45 Les 24 Heures du Mans Warm-Up
11:30 - 12:25 Road to Le Mans Race 2
12:45 - 14:12 Les 24 Heures du Mans Start procedure
14:30 Les 24 Heures du Mans Race Start
20:02 Sunset

Sunday 20th September:
07:43 Sunrise
14:30 Les 24 Heures du Mans Race Finish

All timings are local Central European Summer Time (CEST)
British Summer Time (BST) is -1h


Very much like a WEC race albeit with a longer race

Edited by Great Dane on Thursday 30th July 22:04

[Jos Notstoppen]

The new covid format of a 24 1/2 hr race then!