24h Le Mans
Next Saturday the WEC 6 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps will take place as the second round of the championship and will once again serve as the final rehearsal before the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Some say that at Spa when it's not raining, expect it anyway. That is unfortunately how things are shaping up for the entire weekend thanks to a rather pessimistic weather forecast: showers, showers, showers! But in the Belgian Ardennes, anything is possible, even sunshine and spring temperatures!
After the administrative and technical checks, which took place throughout the day yesterday, the action on the track will kick off today at 11:45 a.m. local time, shortly after the driver and team manager briefings. The cars will have a first 90-minute free practice, followed by another 90-minute session in the afternoon at 4:45 p.m. local time.
A final one-hour session awaits the drivers on Friday morning at 10:25 a.m. before qualifying begins after the lunch break. Unlike other races during the season, with the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the competitors will have 25 minutes (instead of 20) to attempt to clinch the pole. Drivers in the LMGTE Pro and LMGTE Am classes will start things off at 2:50 p.m., followed by their LMP1 and LMP2 colleagues at 3:25 p.m.
In the FIA WEC, the time recorded for the qualifying session is the average of the best times clocked by the two drivers responsible. Though the composition of the starting grid holds little importance in the results in endurance racing, the same cannot be said for the standings in the championship since polemen mark a point.
Once the press conference is concluded, the drivers will have the opportunity to rest a bit as spectators roam free of charge in pit lane during the pit-walk, from 6:10 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., an experience they can enjoy again the next day, Saturday, May 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. before and during the autograph session from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Next the drivers will prepare to take their places on the starting grid at the WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, with the start itself to be given at 2:30 p.m. local time.
Photo (Copyright - AdrenalMedia.com/FIA WEC): The #67 Ford GT in the impressive Raidillon de l'Eau Rouge at the 2016 WEC 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
