Le Mans 2004 Qualifying in November

[lateconvert]

Does anyone have any information about this other than the scanty reference on the ACO site.
If this is a serious 2004 qualification session all the teams should have been invited and organising well underway by now.
If it's on it should be a good weekend trip (weather permitting!)

[Hansgerd]

It's not an early qualifying for the 24 Hours but the first race of the new Le Mans Endurance Series which will be the new European pendat to the ALMS.

[Mark B]

It's also on the Bugatti circuit, so definately not qualification/practice for next year.

[jpchenet]

It is on the Bugatti circuit but it is a qualifyer for next year. I think this is something of a carrot being dangled by the ACO to ansure they get a good level of entries. It is also a prelude to the new European Le Mans Series which will have four races next year.

There will be four categories, and the top 3 from each category (as long as each category has the subscribed number of entries) will recieve automatic qualification for next years 24 hours

[Liszt]

It is a qualifier in that the entrants would then be eledgible or "qualify" to run in the 24h. There may even be an automatic entry for the winner.

[jpchenet]

Prices are now also available at www.lemans.org/endurance_series/lemans_1000km/infos_pratiques_tarifs_gb.shtml

From the lemans.org web site:

In accordance with the announcement made on 13th June prior to the " 24 Heures du Mans ", the ASA ACO of the " 24 Heures du Mans " will be organising a qualifying race for the 2004 " 24 Heures ", which will take place on the Bugatti circuit on the 9th November 2003.

This exceptional and unique race will be run in compliance with the ACO's 2003 specifications, and will be open to the LMP 900, LMP 675, LM GTS et LM GT categories.

" Le Mans 1 000 km " will present the 2004 " 24 Heures du Mans " with the " 12 automatic selections " " on the track " (provisional dates : 12th and 13th June) ; i.e. : 3 per category, subject to there being at least 9 entrants in each of the categories.

According to the provisional calendar, the administrative checks and scrutineering will take place on Friday 7th November, the free practice and qualifying practice sessions on Saturday 8th November, and the race itself will be on Sunday 9th November, with the start fixed 12 noon.

Entries will be open between 1st and 30th September.

This " Le Mans 1 000 km " will be the official launch of the new European series : " Le Mans Endurance Series ".

[jvaughan]

OK. just about to book the ferry and sort out some accomodation for the saturday night.

anyone else going down ?

[lateconvert]

I've booked the eurotunnel for friday afternoon, back
monday evening. Also booked hotel.
I'm slightly concerned about the possible entry list though, Bentley won't be there now I guess, and possibly not TVR, and no works teams, so the field might be less than exciting.

[DustyC]

Using info from the most recent Le Mans it will probably be possible to work out the end time of the race.
1000KM takes 6 hours maybe? I think the ELMS at Silverstone was 1000KM and took about 6 hours.

[griff2be]

Gents

The Tuscan Challenge may be attending this meet, if enough drivers sign up for it. TVR have received an invitation to take the series there and many of us are really keen to go. But basically it comes down to funds - the entry fee is fixed and the fewer the number of drivers, the higher the cost per driver.

So fingers crossed, Le Man may be seeing at least some TVRs

Regards

Andy

[DustyC]

griff2be said:

Gents The Tuscan Challenge may be attending this meet, if enough drivers sign up for it. TVR have received an invitation to take the series there and many of us are really keen to go. But basically it comes down to funds - the entry fee is fixed and the fewer the number of drivers, the higher the cost per driver. So fingers crossed, Le Man may be seeing at least some TVRs Regards Andy

Another incentive for me to go!
Would be good to see the Tivs on the bugatti circuit.

[DustyC]

The Unique "Le Mans 1000 km" race will be 7-9th November 2003
Damn! Clashes with BTaP.

This 'one off' curtain raiser event for the Le Mans Endurance Series
will also be a qualifying race for the 2004 24 Hours. It will be held in
the 'Bugatti' circuit unfamiliar to most regular 24 hour visitors, so a
whole new experience for you to enjoy, as well as seeing Le Mans in
November!

The 1000Km will be open to the normal classes complying with ACO 2003
specifications and which have been harmonised with the new Prototype
rules drawn up in tandem with the FIA.

Schedule as released by the ACO;

Friday 7th November : scrutineering and administrative checks.
Saturday 8th November : free practice and qualifying practice sessions.
Please note that for the Prototypes and GTs that the qualifying
sessions will be run separately just as in the ALMS races.
Sunday 9th November : Warm up at 9.30 a.m. and at 12 noon the 240 lap
race will begin with a rolling start as per Le Mans.

[griff2be]

The current situation is that the TVR Tuscan Challenge will be doing a one-off non-championship race on 9th Nov at this meeting.

ALthough it has changed several times in the last few weeks, as it stands at the moment we are doing this race

[simon t]

Any recomendations for Hotels?

[griff2be]

griff2be said:

The current situation is that the TVR Tuscan Challenge will be doing a one-off non-championship race on 9th Nov at this meeting. ALthough it has changed several times in the last few weeks, as it stands at the moment we are doing this race

Sorry guys, this has now come out as a no-go. Sadly we are not now racing at Le Mans

[lateconvert]

I see that we have the two De Walt Tuscan T440R's racing at Le Mans in November. Let's hope they have better luck than in June.