Monday 16th January 2006

More Historics at Le Mans

Double the fun at Le Mans in June

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The historic support race at the Le Mans 24 Hours is a highlight of the world-famous endurance event each June – and one of the world’s greatest historic races. In celebration of the Centenary of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, Motor Racing Legends has announced that this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours weekend (17-18 June 2006) will see not one, but two historic support races.

Two Races this year

The first ACO Centenary Race will accept entries from Le Mans race cars of the pre-War era (1923 to 1939), while the second chooses the next slot in history, with post-War Le Mans racers up to 1954.

Both ACO Centenary Races will take place on the morning of Saturday 17 June 2006, and are exclusively for actual cars which ran at Le Mans in their day, and genuine sister cars of the same specification. The races, taking place a few hours before the start of the modern 24 Hours, will each be 40 minutes long and for one driver. Both will start with the traditional ‘ear of corn’ formation, in which drivers run across the track to their cars.

Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of Motor Racing Legends which oversees the racing, commented, "The historic support race is always tremendously popular with the 230,000 spectators who flock to the 24 Hour race weekend. This year, they will enjoy an even more exciting spectacle as 100 drivers race on the full 8.5-mile circuit at the wheel of some of the greatest pre- and post-War sports racing cars of all time."

Further information can be found at www.motorracinglegends.com

[Tripps]

That'll sort out the pacing around while waiting for the later 5pm start

[Crook]

Are they doing the Group C's again aswell?

[Dakkon]

It was great last year seeing them 4 wheel drift

[pentoman]

I might be going with a team running some cars in this.

Can't decide if I want to though? Free trip to Le Mans (but with a load of old fogies ), am I stupid?

Russell

[Tripps]

Crook said:

Are they doing the Group C's again aswell?

Nah, groups C's were decades after these cars, in the 80s as I recall, have to say those monsters of cars were fun to watch in 2004.

[Crook]

I thought they did. We missed it by pratting around at BSJ... Was hoping they would run them again.

>> Edited by Crook on Tuesday 17th January 10:10

[t1grm]

There's a series running for group C if you want to see them in action. They had three races in the UK last year. Details here:

www.groupc-gtpracing.com/

I think the ACO alternate the support race between different eras each year so hopefully group C will be back at Le Mans in two or three years. IIRC 2001 was 1960's cars, 2004 was group C and 2005 was 1950's cars.

Does anyone know how long before group C cars will be old enough to compete in the FIA Historic Sport Cars series and then hopefully the Classic Le Mans?

[rev-erend]

John Herbert was superb drifting that Jag around last year at LM.

[hair bear]

I always miss the ONE historic race, by overdoing the substantial foundations of our Beer Mountain on the Friday night. How early do I need to get up for TWO historic races?

[v15ben]

rev-erend said:

John Herbert was superb drifting that Jag around last year at LM.

Indeed so, it was bloody awesome to watch on the big screen trackside!!