24h Le Mans
At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, each car has its own garage in the pit lane. On what basis are they allocated? Automobile Club de l’Ouest operations manager Anthony Riaudel spills the beans.
Pit lane organisation is vital to the smooth-running of race-related operations and is well worth getting just right! Garage allocation is determined to ensure the four classes cohabit successfully. Operations manager Anthony Riaudel is in charge of operations. “Some teams have the same box year after year. Ford, Porsche and Aston Martin, for example. Then it’s a game of musical chairs depending on who wants what”, he explains.
Some teams prefer to be at pit in or pit out, but most have no particular preference. “This year I only had four or five specific requests.” Last year’s winning team Toyota Gazoo Racing likes to be at pit in “because of their refuelling and timing set-up".
The team hospitality structures also influence the decision. “I make sure teams have their facilities as close as possible to their box. It means they don’t have to walk miles. Also, if a team has a hospitality viewing box, we make sure it is the one above their garage."
In the working paddock, where teams park their trucks, special rules apply. We ask them to put a canopy at the end to form a nice straight line. This year it took three days to set up the 62-car paddock.
During Le Mans 24 Hours week, the pit lane is open to the public several times. First on 11 June from 17:00 to 18:30 for the autograph session. Then on Wednesday 12 June, from 10:00 to 15:00 for Pit Walk ticket holders. Lastly, on Friday 14 June from 10:00 to 20:00 for General Enclosure ticket holders.
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, THURSDAY 30 MAY 2019, TEST DAY. The 43 teams have set up camp in the paddock for Test Day and will remain on site until the race is over.
