Right, 2011 for sure

[Christopher]

not an expert on this, BUT, dates need to be ratified by the FiA?  I'm sure they will, though this is usually done at the end of the year or thereabouts?

In the past that has certainly been the case. I wonder though that this year (for next year), because of the significant rule changes the ACO has got an early agreement with the FiA to give potential entrants enough lead time to develop their cars, plus with new leadership at the FiA maybe the stance and co-operation between the ACO and FiA has changed slightly. Also, did I not see footage or hear of Jean Todt being present at some point over the weekend?

[geoffd]

not an expert on this, BUT, dates need to be ratified by the FiA?  I'm sure they will, though this is usually done at the end of the year or thereabouts?

In the past that has certainly been the case. I wonder though that this year (for next year), because of the significant rule changes the ACO has got an early agreement with the FiA to give potential entrants enough lead time to develop their cars, plus with new leadership at the FiA maybe the stance and co-operation between the ACO and FiA has changed slightly. Also, did I not see footage or hear of Jean Todt being present at some point over the weekend?

I thought that the FIA only got involved with dates for FIA sanctioned championships,  I don't think LM comes under them.

[John G]

 Also, did I not see footage or hear of Jean Todt being present at some point over the weekend?

Yes, he was definately there, showed him chatting with Jean Alesi on the TV

[mike(liverpool boys)]

not an expert on this, BUT, dates need to be ratified by the FiA?  I'm sure they will, though this is usually done at the end of the year or thereabouts?

In the past that has certainly been the case. I wonder though that this year (for next year), because of the significant rule changes the ACO has got an early agreement with the FiA to give potential entrants enough lead time to develop their cars, plus with new leadership at the FiA maybe the stance and co-operation between the ACO and FiA has changed slightly. Also, did I not see footage or hear of Jean Todt being present at some point over the weekend?

I thought that the FIA only got involved with dates for FIA sanctioned championships,  I don't think LM comes under them.

you're right, i thought 'normally' there was a level of discussion so there isn't a major clash of events?  Hence the usual announcement much later on in the year.  Of course this now buggers up the hope of 'cheaper' crossing as normally we can take an educated guess and prebook before the ferry companies offer their preferrential rates for race week.

Oh well, lets up my disability living allowance goes up in line with ferry and French of cost of living...

Is that you hinting at making the trip next year FS??? 

[Christopher]

not an expert on this, BUT, dates need to be ratified by the FiA?  I'm sure they will, though this is usually done at the end of the year or thereabouts?

In the past that has certainly been the case. I wonder though that this year (for next year), because of the significant rule changes the ACO has got an early agreement with the FiA to give potential entrants enough lead time to develop their cars, plus with new leadership at the FiA maybe the stance and co-operation between the ACO and FiA has changed slightly. Also, did I not see footage or hear of Jean Todt being present at some point over the weekend?

I thought that the FIA only got involved with dates for FIA sanctioned championships,  I don't think LM comes under them.

Although the 24hrs is not an FiA event, the LM Bugatti circuit is and the ACO do run FiA events, so they have to be civil to eachother. Plus the GT regs in recent years have become aligned between the ACO and FiA, so there is a subtle common ground emerging.