It gets bigger and better! This Thursday, on the second day of qualifying, there is even more action on and off the track! You can start at Arnage, where there is a fantastic display of cars and a parade to get you into the Le Mans mood. Otherwise, the circuit is open from 09:00 and there will be plenty happening on the track again. Competitors in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli and Road to Le Mans will take their cars out first, followed by the teams entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Entertainment all day long!

Arnage dans la course – 09:00-17:00

This year’s “Arnage dans la course” event pays homage to Jean Rondeau, the local manufacturer and driver who, together with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1980 in a car he designed himself. Several of the manufacturer’s racing cars having competed at Le Mans will be on show, including a Rondeau M 482, two Rondeau M 379 Inalteras and a series of miniatures and posters looking back at Jean Rondeau’s achievements. At the same time, there will be close to 150 cars on show, including a British Aston Martin club, the Jaguar UK club and several Ford GT 40s. From 09:00 to midday, and from 14:00 to 17:00, cars on display in front of the town hall. From 12:30 to 13:15, parade of 100 or so cars around the town.

Free practice for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli – 10:00 to 10:45

Funfair – 10:00 to midnight

One of the most popular attractions for thrill seekers at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the traditional funfair. The big wheel can be seen from all around the circuit and there are plenty of other rides, a shooting gallery, dodgems and all the usual stalls. Enjoy the typical funfair atmosphere without having to leave the circuit!

Second free practice session for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli – 11:30 to 12:15

Free practice for Road to Le Mans – 14:30-15:30

The first round of free practice was held on Wednesday evening and a second session will go ahead this afternoon. The LM P3s are leading for the moment, with the GT3s from the Michelin Le Mans Cup fighting it out amongst themselves.

Qualifying for the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli – 16:00 to 17:00

Once free practice is out of the way, it’s time for qualifying to establish positions in the four classes: Pirelli Pro Trophy, Pirelli Trophy, the Shell Cup and the Gentlemen Cup (drivers aged over 55). The Ferrari 458 Challenge EVO, fitted with its cutting-edge aerodynamic kit to improve on-track performance, always puts on a spectacular show.

Qualifying for Road to Le Mans – 18:00-18:30

The exceptional 55-minute race is scheduled for 11:10 on Saturday morning on Circuit de la Sarthe and will feature the ACO series (ELMS and Asian Le Mans Series) LM P3 prototypes and the GT3s that compete in the new Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup. The results will count in the Michelin GT3 Cup championship that is a curtain-raiser to five of the six ELMS rounds and at Le Mans this year. In addition to competitors from these series, a number of other LM P3s and GT3s have been invited to compete in Road to Le Mans. The race format requires one or two drivers and a mandatory pit stop. Two 60-minute practice sessions are planned: yesterday (Wednesday 15 June) evening’s session from 20:30 to 21:30, and then today’s (Thursday 16 June) from 14:30 to 15:30, followed by qualifying from 18:00 to 18:30.

24 Hours of Le Mans qualifying session – 19:00-midnight

If you think that pole is of no importance in a 24-hour endurance race, think again! For manufacturers such as Audi, Toyota and Porsche, taking pole at Le Mans is crucial as it guarantees worldwide media attention. The qualifying sessions are always the scene of the first achievements and sometimes also the first moments of anguish as drivers’ test their car’s limits. After a fierce battle between Porsche and Toyota last night (Wednesday), Audi will be aiming to move back up the ranks from 19:00 this evening.

Women’s Pavilion opens – 19:00-midnight

The Women’s Pavilion was introduced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year and was a great success. It will open its doors again this Wednesday 15 June till the end of the race on Sunday. For its second year, the Pavilion is still reserved exclusively for women, celebrating the glamorous side of the race in a refined and modern setting. There is a relaxation area, an exhibition devoted to the world of the motor car, plus various events and opportunities to talk to personalities linked to the race. The Pavilion is located in the heart of the village and has been completely redesigned. Its ambassadors this year are drivers’ wives Elysia Dumas-Morel and Gaëlle Duval Exposito, while Julia Baldanza, car collector, is guest of honour.

The Virtual Room opens – 19:00-midnight

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is all about innovation. You are invited to the “Virtual Room – “Feel the experience” where there is an array of virtual reality technologies in place to attract young, connected racegoers and give them a fully-immersive race experience. One area is devoted to heritage and the technical advances made possible thanks to the legendary 24-hour race. Here, visitors will be able to have fun while they relive some of the greatest moments in the event’s history. In the gaming area, spectators can take to the driving seat as they try their hand at some of the latest sim racing games, with prizes up for grabs for the best! Elsewhere, fans will be able to sit in the bucket seat of an LM P1 prototype and put on a virtual reality headset for a thrilling ride around the full 13.629 km of the Circuit de la Sarthe, then go over to the selfie area for a photo to celebrate their win! The 2013 Audi R18 e-tron quattro will also be on display here. Don't miss the Virtual Room - a brand new attraction for this year!

Retrospective  in concert – 20:00-21:00

Retrospective is a young French rock group from Montpellier, formed in September 2014. It features Gaëtan on guitar and vocals, Roman on the guitar, Gauthier on bass and Jules behind the drums. Their influences range from New York garage (The Strokes, Television and Velvet Underground) to the British rock scene (Artic Monkeys, The Libertines, Miles Kane and the like). The group’s energetic tracks comprise a series of keen everyday observations, written and sung in French.

Julian Perretta in concert – 21:00-22:30

This British singer-songwriter emerged on the scene in 2008 and scored an international hit with the irresistible Wonder Why in 2010. The single won over the airwaves... and the female fans! After a world tour, he took a break and spent some time writing and producing for other artists. In December 2015, Perretta released the first single from his second studio album, Miracle. It was another instant hit.

24 Hours of Le Mans qualifying session – 22:00-midnight

There is everything to play for this evening, whether the goal is to make some last-minute improvements or to move up the grid ready for 3pm on Saturday! Once night falls over the circuit, you might think that the race for pole is over. Wrong! The last few minutes of qualifying are always very dramatic as the teams’ sprinters go flat out to grab their fastest lap time. You can be sure of a thrilling evening!
 

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Photo: Le Mans, France, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Wednesday 15 June: Circuit de la Sarthe has already served up some thrilling scenes, just like the #2 Porsche driven by Switzerland’s Neel Jani in an incredible time of 3:19:733, despite some difficult overtaking over the last stretch of the legendary 13.629-kilometre circuit. Here he is at the start of Wednesday evening’s qualifying session.