The legendary French race is, of course, a 24-hour sprint where every second counts. However, it is also a week-long celebration when fans have several opportunities to meet the teams for a truly unforgettable Le Mans experience.

 

Sunday 12 and Monday 13 June (6 days to race day)
Scrutineering and drivers’ hand print ceremony
On Sunday 12 and Monday 13 June, all the teams have to undergo the required technical and administrative checks. This is a mandatory step but also a celebration much appreciated by the fans and teams. Scrutineering – the term used since motor racing’s earliest days – takes place on Place de la République in the centre of Le Mans. All 60 cars and their drivers have to go before the marshals who make sure that they comply with the regulations.
The cars are measured (length, width, overhang, wheel base, rear wing height, fairing, etc.) then raised so that they can be inspected underneath. Then the bodywork is partially removed. The drivers also undergo a series of checks, from their licenses to their helmets and suits, to make sure everything complies with FIA standards. Finally, they step on to the scales – just like the cars – to establish the teams’ average weight.
This is a truly popular occasion, open to all and really encourages fans and teams to come together, kicking off a week of motoring events and celebrations.

Hall of Fame -Drivers’ hand prints ceremony
Tradition has it that every driver who wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans has their hands cast in plaster after the race. That cast is then used to make a bronze plaque bearing the hand prints, the winning drivers’ names and the date of their victory. The next year, the celebratory plaque is set in the pavement in the centre of Le Mans. The excited crowd will be keen to catch a glimpse of Nico Hülkenberg, Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy this year.

 

Tuesday 14  June(4 days to race day)
Drivers’ autograph session
Once the drivers are caught up in the commotion of the race, they are out of reach for the fans, but a few days ahead of the event, they set some time aside for the public. At 5 p.m. on Tuesday 14 June, the pit lane will be opened up and spectators invited in. This is a great opportunity to get a peek behind the scenes, as people often say “races can be won or lost in the pits”. It is also a chance to chat with the competitors in this year’s race and take away some great memories, autographs and photos. It is a warm and friendly occasion proving that Le Mans and its race are still all about sharing the passion.
 

Wednesday 15 June (3 days to race day)
Free practice and qualifying

16:00–20:00 – free practice

This is where it all begins. Free practice gets underway from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. This is a chance for teams to rack up a few laps, get to know the track inside out and tweak their cars’ settings.
The teams go all out but as the session does not count towards qualifying, they are often tempted to try out different configurations – more or less successfully, but usually with some spectacular scenes for the spectators.

22:00 – midnight: qualifying

During the second session of the day – the first night-time tests – the pressure is turned up a notch. The stopwatch is now the only judge of the teams’ performance and it is ruthless: every tenth of a second counts and can make a clear difference on the starting grid. If the weather is fine, it is a good opportunity to clock some good lap times, without worrying what the next day’s qualifying will bring. All drivers are required to cover at least five night laps during qualifying on Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday 16 June (2 days to race day)

More qualifying

There are two qualifying sessions on the Thursday before the race: the first from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the second from 10 p.m. to midnight. Four hours during which the drivers are up against the clock as they deal with the often variable weather conditions. The pressure really mounts because while a good place on the starting grid is no guarantee of victory, it is decisive to the teams’ and drivers’ confidence levels.

 

Friday 17 June (1 day to race day)
Pit walk

10:00-20:00: Pit walk

The calm before the storm... On the eve of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the track is really quiet, with none of the cars or drivers out. Instead, spectators with ‘general enclosure’ tickets are free to wander around the circuit, from the pit straight along the first bends up to the Dunlop bridge. The pits are also open, with plenty to see as the drivers and teams are busy making the final adjustments to their cars.

 

Early evening: Drivers’ Parade

The Drivers’ Parade is now a tradition. Organised by Classic Automotive in association with Automobile Club de l’Ouest, much to the fans’ delight, competitors in the 24 Hours of Le Mans travel the streets of Le Mans on-board a series of vintage cars that recall the heritage and long-standing popularity of the race. A wonderful show, not to be missed!

 

Saturday 18 June (Race day)
9:00 – 9:45: warm-up

It’s the big day at last There are now just a few hours to go until the flag goes down to start the 84th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There is one final practice session early in the morning, the 45-minute warm-up. Here, teams will give their cars a few final tweaks, adapting them to weather conditions on the day.
 

Late morning: LM P3 and GT3, a new support race

New for 2016, a 60-minute race for LM P3 and GT3 cars just before lunch. This is open to one or two drivers per car and requires one pit stop of a minimum duration set by the regulations. It will see the GT3s that compete in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup line up against the LM P3s, the new prototype category that serves as a training ground for the much-coveted LM P2 and LP P1 classes.

Ferrari Challenge

After a three-year absence, the Ferrari Challenge is back at Le Mans as the curtain-raiser to the main event. A chance to see a race renowned for its closely fought battles and to admire the 458 EVO for the last time, before the 488 makes its debut next season.

15:00 The Start

The last few minutes before the start are spent briefing the drivers and presenting the cars. Then out comes the Grand Marshal: since 2013, this is the title given to the ambassador selected to represent the race’s founding values during race week. The Grand Marshal also has the honour of driving the pace car in front of competitors during the formation lap. After Henri Pescarolo, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen, this year’s Grand Marshal is Alexander Wurz. Another personality in the spotlight is the official starter, whose job it is to lower the flag to unleash the cars. Last year, this role went to William Clay Ford Jr. He will be succeeded in 2016 by no other than Hollywood actor Brad Pitt!