Le Mans 24

[Dr Jekyll]

Naive question I'm sure. But how do racing drivers get to be able to compete at Le Mans? Is there a superlicence qualification like F1 or some other series they have to compete in first?

There always seem to be some wealthy amateurs in the race and I'm wondering how they got there.

[1]

International A licence and a big bank balance.

Getting the licence is the easy part.

[Piglet]

I thought it was an "ordinary" international C licence for Le Mans?

Entries to LM are hard to come by, for a driver with money, getting a drive is fairly straightforward, there are plenty of underfunded teams around.

[1]

Piglet said:

I thought it was an "ordinary" international C licence?

You might be right, I just assumed an A but then Nigel Moore has been racing less than 3 years so I doubt he could have got an A in that time.

[Scuffers]

1 said:

Piglet said:

I thought it was an "ordinary" international C licence?

You might be right, I just assumed an A but then Nigel Moore has been racing less than 3 years so I doubt he could have got an A in that time.

depends what class your in, Int C will cover GT1 and GT2, LMP classes require Int B I believe (could be wrong on that bit?)

[anonymous-user]

i think you must have also done a "qualifying season" in something likes ALMS too? this is why Drayson went to the States last year to get a guaranteed entry to la sarthe...

[Scuffers]

pablo said:

i think you must have also done a "qualifying season" in something likes ALMS too? this is why Drayson went to the States last year to get a guaranteed entry to la sarthe...

Not sure about that?

might have done that to get an Int B licence though....

Le-Mans also demands you achieve a laptime too though, so the donkeys get weeded out.

[1]

pablo said:

i think you must have also done a "qualifying season" in something likes ALMS too? this is why Drayson went to the States last year to get a guaranteed entry to la sarthe...

No qualifying season needed, you just need the international licence (not sure which).

I also think a min lap time is required either 125% or 117% of pole, having said that I am not sure if that is the cars time or each driver?

[Piglet]

1 said:

pablo said:

i think you must have also done a "qualifying season" in something likes ALMS too? this is why Drayson went to the States last year to get a guaranteed entry to la sarthe...

No qualifying season needed, you just need the international licence (not sure which).

I also think a min lap time is required either 125% or 117% of pole, having said that I am not sure if that is the cars time or each driver?

The regs are available online, the qualifying time is somethink like 107% of the third fastest in class or something similar IIRC.

Drayson wanted an entry didn't he rather than just a drive?

[Graham]

Drayson has only got sight in one eye, which was stopping him getting the relevant international licence... he did the Alms to prove he could race at the required level. He did and now has the licence.. and to help get the team entry too

Edited by Graham on Sunday 5th July 18:43

[Scuffers]

1 said:

pablo said:

i think you must have also done a "qualifying season" in something likes ALMS too? this is why Drayson went to the States last year to get a guaranteed entry to la sarthe...

No qualifying season needed, you just need the international licence (not sure which).

I also think a min lap time is required either 125% or 117% of pole, having said that I am not sure if that is the cars time or each driver?

per driver... (and yes, some people have not made the cut.)

[1]

So can anyone clarify which licence is needed for each class and what the min % is, and if it is a % of the respective classes fastest quali lap or overall pole?

[Racefan_uk]

For Le Mans getting a drive is the easy part (if you're talented enough to be asked/paid to drive, or have a big enough cheque to buy a seat at the event (and have the relevent license, as already stated).

To actually get into the race, you have to complete 10 laps before the race, which is why the test day was usually just as important for novice drivers to get their laps in as it was for the top guys to get a set up and start getting their eye in etc.

This year it was the free practice sessions that were needed for that as there wasn't a test day.

I don't know about the percentage rule for the lap time. I always thought it was just done on the amount of laps you'd completed to show competence at not throwing whatever you're driving in to the scenery or getting in other peoples way.

[FourWheelDrift]

And 3 laps at night.

[Piglet]

1 said:

So can anyone clarify which licence is needed for each class and what the min % is, and if it is a % of the respective classes fastest quali lap or overall pole?

Google for the reg's the qualification percentages will be in there. The licence categories might be but I'm not sure.

[1]

Piglet said:

1 said:

So can anyone clarify which licence is needed for each class and what the min % is, and if it is a % of the respective classes fastest quali lap or overall pole?

Google for the reg's the qualification percentages will be in there. The licence categories might be but I'm not sure.

Had a quick read of the regs (interesting read, 38k Euro entry fees were cheaper than I thought) but couldn't find the supplementary ACO regs which state the min time.

Edited by 1 on Sunday 5th July 21:47

[Piglet]

I can't see the regs on the ACO website now, I wonder if they have taken them down...they were up around the race as I downloaded them (I like to have the regs as I'm watching - I am that sad!).

I can't see where I've saved them though...I'll have a dig.

[Jungles]

Qualification:

ACO Sporting Regulations 2009 said:

9.3.3 - Complete a minimum of 3 laps at night when the race is run partly by night.


...snip...


9.7 - Minimum qualifying time :
Drivers shall achieve a lap time at least equal to
a/ 125 % of the average of the 3 best laps set by 3 cars of different makes,
b/ 115 % of the best time achieved by the fastest car in each of the four categories.
A driver is not allowed to qualify during the warm-up.

There doesn't seem to be any restrictions within the regulations about level of license, etc. The fees are considerable, but gentlemen drivers should be able to pay the fees from their back pockets.

There are also automatic invitations too. Although these are for teams rather than drivers, the teams invited would presumably wish to carry their drivers into the 24 hour race:
1st in previous year's Le Mans 24 hour race
2nd in previous year's Le Mans 24 hour race
1st in previous season's Le Mans Series
2nd in previous season's Le Mans Series
1st in previous year's Petit Le Mans
1st in previous season's American Le Mans Series
1st in previous season's FIA GT Championship
2nd in previous season's FIA GT Championship

Edited by Jungles on Thursday 9th July 05:01