Before, qualifying was divided in half with a 20-minute session for the prototypes, LM P2 and LM P3 together, and a 20-minute session for the GTs (LM GTE and GTC). In 2016, exit the GTCs, the cars compliant with the GT3 regulations given their own championship in the form of the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup, so only three classes remain. Also, due to the skyrocketing number of competitors in the LM P3 class, the qualifying session dedicated to prototypes would have led to 35 cars on the track at the same time.

That is why the ELMS organizers decided to modify the qualifying format with a 10-minute session for each of the three classes. Only the Spa-Francorchamps circuit because of its length (7 km) may be an exception to the rule. Sessions could be extended to give competitors more time on the track, the Belgian Ardennes circuit being on the European championship calendar for the first time since its modification.

The new principle of qualifying in effect since the 4 Hours of Silverstone on April 16th, the kickoff of the 2016 ELMS season, the participants of which will be hard at work the next two days at the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet for the official tests.

Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO