24h Le Mans
Like any sport, the world of motor racing has its own language and codes. Here’s our handy glossary to help you get to decipher endurance racing jargon and join in the conversation with fans and any drivers you meet.
There are four classes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Super Finale of the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship. They are based on the cars’ technical characteristics. To find out which class a car is competing in, look at the colour of the background behind its number: Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) car numbers have a red background, Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) a blue background, Le Mans Grand Tourisme Endurance Pro (LMGTE Pro or GTE Pro) green, and Le Mans Grand Tourisme Endurance Am (LMGTE Am or GTE Am) orange.
The track marshals are the race’s guardian angels. They are positioned at strategic locations around the track and oversee safety. They use different coloured flags to keep competitors informed about race incidents (e.g. a car that has slowed down, an accident or a penalty) or notify drivers of a change in track conditions (e.g. grip or rain). They have a radio link to Race Control, whose instructions they apply and to whom they report any information required to ensure the race runs smoothly and safely. They are all volunteers and come from different backgrounds from across the world. There are people of all ages and without them, the race simply couldn’t happen. Recognise them by their orange suits! Training of the 1,600 track marshals at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s main priorities.
The Race Control team comprises a Race Director, a Clerk of the Course and two assistant clerks. It is their job to ensure the race remains safe and within the rules. They are based in the Circuit’s Module Sportif building where they view images from several dozen cameras located around the edge of the track and receive information from the track marshals. Race Control oversees safety for competitors on the track and in the pitlane and ensures compliance with FIA regulations. If a driver or team breaks the rules, they can apply disciplinary measures.
In motor racing, this flag is used to mark the end of the race.
The iconic Mulsanne Straight is almost six kilometres (3.7 miles) long. It lies to the south of the city of Le Mans and for the rest of the year, it is part of the public road network. During the 24 Hours of Le Mans, however, it is closed to traffic and becomes one of the most famous sections of the track. It is interrupted by the Forza Motorsport and Michelin chicanes, introduced in the 1990s.
There are two “sub-classes” in LMP1: one for the LMP1s entered by private teams and not using an energy recovery system (ERS), and one for LMP1 Hybrid cars that use an energy recovery system.
This word is borrowed from the realm of equestrian sport and refers to the area behind the garages where the teams work and stock their equipment.
The pre-race administrative and technical checks are usually referred to as Scrutineering (or Pesage in French). The 62 cars entered in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans are required to undergo inspection to ensure they comply with the ACO and FIA regulations defined for the World Endurance Championship. Scrutineering will take place on Sunday 9 and Monday 10 June on Place de la République in central Le Mans.
Slow zones were introduced at the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans in 2015 to maximise safety without having to interrupt the race. The circuit is split into 9 sectors and 35 portions. When a slow zone is activated on a portion of the track, cars are restricted to a speed of 80 kph and it is forbidden to overtake. This makes it safer for marshals to intervene when necessary. If a car fails to comply with a slow zone, Race Control may issue a penalty against the team in question.
As the ultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the climax of the 2018-19 season, where the world champions will be crowned.
This is where the 62 garages are located. Throughout the race, the cars come into the pitlane for driver changes, tyre changes, refuelling or for repairs.
Also known as the “Pace car” in American English, the safety car used at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a black Porsche 911 RSR with a blue signal light system on the roof. It enters the track on instruction from Race Control, interrupting the race in the event of an incident (e.g. debris, collision or a car off track) or in dangerous weather conditions. It moves in front of the leader to slow down the pack and create safer conditions for the track marshals who may need to clean the track or remove a car, or for the medical team who need to assist a driver.
In 2012, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and FIA joined forces to launch the World Endurance Championship, bringing together some of the greatest endurance races in the world (such as Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone, Le Mans, Fuji, Shanghai and Sebring), with the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the season highlight.
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT BUGATTI, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 1 JUNE 2019, TEST DAY. View over the paddock.
