24h Le Mans
Photo : Sebastien BASSANI - ACO/ NIKON
In the spring of 2013, the FIA World Endurance Championship and various international "Le Mans" series will take place between the 13th of April and 26th of May ahead of the big race in June, the traditional month of the great event of La Sarthe. It will also be an opportunity for Le Mans competitors to assess each other before facing the ruthless thirteen kilometres of the 24 Hours circuit.
FIA World Endurance Championship - After the official test at Paul Ricard HTTT on the 29th and 30th of March, the 2013 season opens with two of the best circuits in the world. At Silverstone (14th of April), the winners will also receive the Tourist Trophy, the most prestigious award in British motorsport. Then, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps WEC will be once again the final dress rehearsal before the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is also the third round of the World Championship.
European Le Mans Series - 13th of April 13, Silverstone will also mark the start of the ELMS 2013 season. Then competitors will visit Imola (4th of May). Among those invited to the 24 Hours of Le Mans are 2012 LM P2 title holders Thiriet by TDS Racing, Murphy Prototypes, Greaves Motorsport, Jota Sport, Race Performance, Signatech Alpine, Boutsen Ginion Racing, and in LM GTE, AF Corse, Larbre Compétition, Proton Competition, IMSA Performance Matmut and JMW Motorsport.
American Le Mans Series - After the 12 Hours of Sebring, ALMS goes to California with the urban layout of Long Beach, on the outskirts of Los Angeles (20th of April), and the undulating Laguna Seca circuit in Monterey, south of San Francisco (11th of May). Among the competitors invited to the 24 Hours (including the factory Corvette and Viper of SRT Motorsports in LM GTE Pro, and Level 5 Motorsports in LM P2), the most anticipated is undoubtedly Patrick Dempsey, who will make his return to La Sarthe driving a Porsche 911 three years after his first participation at Le Mans in a Ferrari.
Asian Le Mans Series - The first two rounds of 2013 will be held at three week intervals; in People's Republic of China at Zhuhai (5th of May) and Shanghai (26th of May). Among the participants will be the KCMG team with a Morgan Nissan, who will be the first Chinese team to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Test day Le Mans 24 Hours (9th of June) - Competitors selected by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest will meet for the first time in the 24 Hours circuit, two weeks ahead of the 24 hours on the 22nd and 23rd of June
The 90th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans is on the 22nd and 23rd June. Click HERE for ticket information.
Entry List HERE.
Jean-Philippe Doret - ACO
Photo - CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HEURES DU MANS, START, 16th JUNE 2012. There are just 3 months ,two days and eight races before the 90th anniversarye24 Hours of Le Mans !
