The detailed program for the 24 2020 Hours of Le Mans

A few days after announcing the cancellation of the Test Day, the ACO has unveiled the program of 24 Hours of Le Mans 2020. The postponement of the test to September has, in fact, led to some adjustments, the first of which – which we already knew – is an early departure of 1h30, therefore at 14:30 p.m..

The paddock must be set up on Saturday September 12 at 18 p.m., since administrative and technical checks will begin the next day, from 8 a.m. to 00:17 p.m. Exceptionally, these will unfortunately not be held at Place de la République, in the city center, but at the circuit, as is usually the case for Test Day. Rebelote the next day, Monday September 30.

On Wednesday September 16, free practice will begin at 13 p.m. A first session which will end at 18 p.m., two hours before the second begins, scheduled from 20 p.m. to 23 p.m. Finally, the qualifications for the “hyperpole” are scheduled from 23:15 p.m. to 00:00 a.m. It is during one of these two free sessions that beginners will have to complete their ten compulsory laps of the circuit.

On Thursday September 17, the 3rd and 4th free practice sessions will be held from 17 p.m. to 18 p.m. then from 21 p.m. to midnight with, in between, the Hyperpole (explanations here), which will pit the six fastest cars in their category against each other during qualifying.

Another small modification to note, but which is not without importance, the number of compulsory laps to be carried out at night per driver increases from 5 to 8 laps. This is certainly due to the fact that the night is longer in September than in June.

On Friday, fans will have access to the pit lane and the traditional exhibition on the track upstream of the Dunlop footbridge, between 10 a.m. and 20 p.m. But we can bet that the most keen will head to the city center shortly before 17 p.m., to attend the Grand Parade of Pilots.

The pre-race program has not yet been announced in full, but we already know that the warm-up, lasting only 15 minutes, is scheduled from 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAM

Saturday, September 12

At 18:00 p.m.: End of assembly. The teams are in place, box and paddock.

Sunday, September 13

From 8:00 a.m. to 17:30 p.m.: Competitors are invited for administrative (Welcome) and technical (Circuit) checks.

Monday September 14

From 8:00 a.m. to 17:30 p.m.: Competitors are invited for administrative (Welcome) and technical (Circuit) checks.

Tuesday, September 15

10:00 a.m.: Pilot and commissioner briefings at Welcome

From 17:00 p.m. to 18:30 p.m.: Visit to the stands and autograph session

Wednesday, September 16

From 13:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m.: Free practice session 1 FP1

From 20:00 p.m. to 23:00 p.m.: Free practice session 2 FP2

From 23:15 p.m. to 00:00 a.m.: Qualifications

The 10 laps for “Rookie” drivers must be completed during the FP1 and FP2 sessions.

Thursday 17 September

From 17:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m.: Free practice session 3 FP3

From 20:00 p.m. to 20:30 p.m.: Hyperpole 24 Hours

From 21:00 p.m. to 00:00 p.m.: Free practice session 4 FP4

The number of compulsory laps to be completed at night per driver increases from 5 to 8 laps

Friday 18 September

From 10:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m.: Visit to the stands

At 17:00 p.m.: Pilots’ parade in the city center
 

Saturday September 19

From 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.: Warm Up

From 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Opening of the Pit Lane

From 12:35 p.m. to 13:20 p.m.: Opening of Grid Walk access

From 13:15 p.m. to 13:40 p.m.: Evacuation Grid Walk

From 13:40 p.m. to 14:21 p.m.: Departure procedure

14:30 p.m.: Start of the 88th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Sunday, September 20

14:30 p.m.: Arrival of the 88th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans