24h Le Mans
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) is making a stop for the first time at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, for the 6 Hours of Mexico, this coming weekend and with a significant unknown: the altitude.
Though certain drivers, like Loïc Duval and Lucas di Grassi for Audi; Sébastien Buemi, Stéphane Sarrazin and Mike Conway for Toyota, title-holders in Formula E; are familiar with the circuit located southwest of the Mexian capital, it's akin to jumping into the unknown for all the teams. This Thursday starting at 9:00 a.m., all competitors will have one collective 90-minute free practice session designed to let the drivers familiarize themselves with the track and outfits to understand the real effects of the altitude.
The rest of the weekend will unfold in the typical way with two 90-minute free practice sessions on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. and at 6:00 p.m., then a final one-hour session on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. Then the drivers will take part in qualifying on Friday afternoon, with a 20-minute session for the LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am classes then for the LM P1s and LM P2s.
In the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the qualifying time is comprised of the average of two laps: the best lap of the two drivers is used. Though there are no restrictions in terms of the classification of the drivers in the "professional" LM P1 and LM GTE Pro classes, such is not the case for the "amateur" classes. Therefore in LM P2, one of the two laps must be completed by a "Silver" or "Bronze" driver. The same in LM GTE Am, but strictly by a "Bronze" driver.
Unlike many championships and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there is no warm-up in the WEC races, but the spectators - expected to come out in droves at the Mexico race - can enjoy the pitwalk, meaning walk freely in pit lane, and the autograph session (11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.) held in front of the teams' respective garages. Then on to the starting grid set-up and the start of the race on Saturday, September 3rd at 1:30 p.m.
Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
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Photo (Copyright: Ade Holbrook/FIA WEC): Pit lane at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
