24h Le Mans
One of the unique aspects of the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit is that it borrows four sections of local roads. These were closed to traffic today at noon and will be reopened after qualifying on Thursday. Regional officials will set out to close them again Saturday before the big race.
"This is a proud and important moment for us," says Frédéric Beauchef, vice-president of the regional council and president of the local road infrastructure committee. Today at noon, about 30 regional officials spent three hours finalizing the circuit at the request of the ACO. The organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans pays for "any necessary interventions relative to the circuit, including opening, closing and detours," clarifies Ghislain Robert, head of events and infrastructures at the ACO.
At high noon, police officers directed cars on the local road near the Tertre Rouge roundabout to detour. Large fences were put in place to block the road that is now a temporary part of the circuit. Once the closure was completed, the officials carried out the task at hand: the removal and installation of white adhesive lines to mark the configuration of the circuit."It is required by the regulations that the perimeter of the circuit be marked with two white lines," indicates Ghislain Robert.
Next, they set about removing signage and setting up track marshal posts, reestablishing chicanes, fulfilling safety requirements and blocking views from area restaurants...at four sections of road and the intersections known as Antarès, Tertre Rouge, Mulsanne, Arnage, Porsche and Fresne. Sweepers stepped in and got to work on what amounts to approximately three-quarters of the circuit. Nothing is left to chance when cars go into these turns at 150 km/h!
The return to road configuration will take place Thursday around 14:00. Then the circuit will be reformed on Saturday around 04:00 for the race. Local roads will be reopened one last time mid-afternoon on Sunday.
PHOTOS: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, TERTRE ROUGE ROUNDABOUT. Regional officials join a local road with the rest of the circuit for the sessions of Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 June.
Click on any photo to enlarge.
