Prequal probably cancelled

[lynxd67]

According to today's paper here it seems that the majority of teams are not coming two weeks early for the prequal and so it look slike being cancelled. Such is the economic squeeze it seems.

[Werner]

Well, I never really understood this date anyway. It all made sense when the Prequal was actually just that - a prequal where only the quickest got an entry - but this stopped some years ago.

Biggest problem now will be: How will we get decent pictures now for the entry list of the 2009 CA Guide - termie took those always at the test day...

[geoffd]

It's all just a rumour so far!  And it's not been pre-q for years,  it's been known as the test day as far as I know.

But with many teams struggling to raise sponsorship for next year it would make sense to try and have more running time during the LM week rather than have teams setup and run for one day and then in many cases have the car(s) and crew stay locally for an extra week.  It all adds up to the costs of competing.  If they don't do something I don't think we'll have the 55 quality runners that we had this year.

[lynxd67]

Here's the press release I've just received:-

Cost reduction for the entrants:
Test day cancelled
 
 
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest always listens attentively to the manufacturers’ needs, and so in agreement with teams that may be invited to the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours, the Club, remaining faithful to its firmly-held objective to reduce costs, has taken the decision to cancel the test day scheduled for 31st May 2009, and to rethink the format of the Le Mans Series events.
 
The Le Mans 24-Hours race has always been in tune with the times and when motor racing shows signs of disquiet linked to the economic situation, it is the ACO’s duty to take preventive measures while respecting the sporting regulations.
Thus, in keeping with the cost reductions already begun with the 2009 ACO regulations, and the new orientations in 2011, the test day originally scheduled for 31st May 2009 has been cancelled.

On the other hand, all the entrants invited by the ACO will have to take part in free practice on Wednesday before Thursday’s qualifying session on 11th June to be allowed to start on Saturday 13th June at 15h00.

This decision represents considerable savings for all the entrants, who must be ready at the circuit on Monday 8th June (scrutineering).

Following the same train of thought the 2009 Le Mans Series races will be a day shorter so the entrants will be at the circuit 3 days instead of 4, scrutineering included.
These measures will favour the participation of entrants in the Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series events from the start of the season to prepare for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

This decision is nothing exceptional in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours as the test day has not always been on the ACO calendar.
The test day before the race week itself was held for the first time in 1959 as preliminary practice and continued until 1974. It was suspended because of the first petrol crisis.
It was reinstated for 1986 and 1987, and then cancelled again before being part of the event in 1993.
According to the years this session took place in March, April or May and since 2005 in June.
It lasted one two or three days and was called practice day, preliminary practice, pre-qualifying and test day since 2005.
 

[Barry]

Do I read this right that times on Wednesday no longer count as a qualifing time?

Or is there extra track time on Wednesday, free practice and qualifing?

[smokie]

Hasn't it always been that way? Along with the regs about drivers having to have driven the track in teh dark etc...

[termietermite]

Do I read this right that times on Wednesday no longer count as a qualifing time?

Or is there extra track time on Wednesday, free practice and qualifing?

Sounds like the first one to me.

[lynxd67]

Do I read this right that times on Wednesday no longer count as a qualifing time?

Or is there extra track time on Wednesday, free practice and qualifing?

Wednesday was always free practice and Thursday timed. No change there.

[Nordic]

That's how it sounds to me as well.
Free practice on Wednesday, Q on Thursday.

[Nordic]

Times set on Wednesday have counted for grid postion in the past I think?

This implys that they won't next year and the grid will be set from Thursday only

[Werner]

Yes, this seems to be a major change for the Wednesday. Both the 2 Wednesday and the 2 Thursday practices were always timed in the past with all 4 sessions being relevant for the grid position.

[mgmark]

Certainly does seem to be a major change since the 4 timed sessions - I seem to recall plenty of occasions since '93 when the pole has been set on the wednesday evening, when the weather on thursday (normally temperature hotter) meant that a faster time was unlikely, so teams worked mainly on race set up on the Thursday.

MG Mark

[Canada Phil]

Certainly does seem to be a major change since the 4 timed sessions - I seem to recall plenty of occasions since '93 when the pole has been set on the wednesday evening, when the weather on thursday (normally temperature hotter) meant that a faster time was unlikely, so teams worked mainly on race set up on the Thursday.

MG Mark

Hi Mark,
    I remember that too. well now that you mention it. 
Phil

[termietermite]

Times set on Wednesday have counted for grid postion in the past I think?

This is my memory also but I stand to be corrected.... 

Whatever, the whole thing seems to me to be very sensible on the ACO's part, given the economic climate, although I'll sorely miss the "up close and personal" aspect of PQ weekend.  But it stands in stark contrast to F1 where the short one is still labouring under the illusion that the pots of money available to keep expensive sports viable are bottomless.....

[mgmark]

Times set on Wednesday have counted for grid postion in the past I think?

This is my memory also but I stand to be corrected.... 

Whatever, the whole thing seems to me to be very sensible on the ACO's part, given the economic climate, although I'll sorely miss the "up close and personal" aspect of PQ weekend.  But it stands in stark contrast to F1 where the short one is still labouring under the illusion that the pots of money available to keep expensive sports viable are bottomless.....

With a bit of luck the sponsors will desert him as well as his missus taking the proceeds from the "trust".  With a bit more luck, they will realise what awesome value sponsoring sports car endurance racing is, but on the other hand, maybe we wouldn't really want them there!


On the past qualifying times counting on the wednesday, just type "le mans pole" or "le mans qualifying" into Google and there are plenty of references - pole last year and this year was set by Peugeot on the second Wednesday evening session.
MG Mark