Because of the entry of hybrid cars in the Le Mans 24 Hours on 16-17 June, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) have decided to create specific zones where the cars in question can transmit the energy recuperated under braking. There will be seven on the 24-Hours circuit.

The hybrid systems of Audi and Toyota recover the energy generated under braking. Previously this was lost; it is now stored and transmitted under acceleration. In order to limit the size of these systems – and the budgets required for their development – the ACO and the FIA have imposed a maximum quantity of energy that can be transmitted between two braking phases: 500 kilojoules. Each hybrid car can take advantage of additional electric power without exceeding the minima laid down in the technical regulations.

In order to establish clearly-defined zones (those allowing energy (500 kj maximum) to be transmitted between two braking phases, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have defined the zones where braking is sufficiently heavy to be taken into account.

There were five on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship on 5th May 2012 in which this system was used for the first time. On the 13,629-km Le Mans circuit there will be seven.

Zone no. 1: Dunlop chicane (no. 8 marshal’s post)
Zone no. 2: Forza Motorsport Chicane (no. 42 marshals’ post)
Zone no. 3: Michelin Chicane (no. 60 marshals’ post)
Zone no. 4: Mulsanne corner (no. 76 marshals’ post)
Zone no. 5: Indianapolis Corner (no. 96 marshals’ post)
Zone no. 6: Porsche Corner (no. 115b marshals’ post)
Zone no. 7: Ford Corner (no. 131 marshals’ post)

The entry to each zone is 50 metres before the corner in question. The entrants for the Le Mans 24-Hours test day on 3rd June 2012 will have to respect these zones.

Four of the 56 cars entered for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours have hybrid engines: the nos 1 & 2 Audi R18 e-tron quattros and the nos 7 & 8 Toyota TS030s.

It is worth noting that in the case of Audi where the energy is fed to the front drive train the car must be running above 120 km/h for the transmission to take place. For Toyota, on the other hand, in which the energy is fed to the rear drive train there is no minimum speed.

To download the map of the ERS braking zones, click here.

To download the list of entries for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours, click here.

Practical information
The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours
80th event
3rd round of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship

Dates: 16-17 June 2012

General enclosure ticket: 69 euros
Free for young people born after 17th June 1996 accompanied by an adult.

Scrutineering and admin. checks: Sunday 10th (14h30 – 19h00) and Monday 11th June (10h00 – 18h00).

Wednesday 13th June: Free practice 16h00 - 20h00, qualifying 22h00 - midnight.

Thursday 14th June: qualifying 19h00 - 21h00 and 22h00 - midnight.

Start of the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours: Saturday 16th June 2012 at 15h00.

2012 Le Mans 24-Hours Test day

General enclosure ticket: 15 euros
Free for young people born after 17th June 1996 accompanied by an adult and all holders of a ticket for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Technical and admin.checks: Friday 1st June (09h00-18h00) and Saturday 2nd June (09h00-15h00) at the circuit.

Practice: Sunday 3rd June, 2 sessions: 09h00-13h00 and 14h00-18h00.