| After the photo call, the cars for the 87th running of the world’s greatest endurance race return to the garages for last-minute preparations beforeone of the race preliminaries, the Test Day, which commences at 09:00 onSunday. On Saturday, the whole field – 8 LMP1s, 20 LMP2s, 17 LMGTE Pros and 17LMGTE Ams – of the FIA WEC 2018-19 Super Season lined up on the pit straight for the traditional pre-race photograph. With two weeks to go, the session marks the beginning of the countdown to the most important24 hours of the year in the endurance racing world. |
| Test Day on 2 June is a vital part of the groundwork before the classic endurance race. Two sessions, morning and afternoon, offer competitors the opportunity to assess their cars in race conditions and to encounter the extraordinary circuit, which, being part public roads, is only open forofficial race sessions. Test Day performance demonstrates current form and is the first chance to size up the field. Drivers with no recent experience of the race must complete ten laps (five of them timed), having already undergone simulator training to familiarise themselves with the idiosyncrasies of the race and circuit. The sessions are open to race ticket holders and day passes are on sale at the gates. Next week, drivers and cars head for Place de la République to undergo scrutineering and administrative checks in Le Mans city centre. On Tuesday 4 June, the Bugatti, the closed-off portion of the main 24 Hours circuit, hosts another preliminary track session for the last tweaks to settings before the practice and qualifying sessions on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is not only one of the world’s best-known sporting events, its power of attraction also lies in its historic, cultural and musical aspects. |
| Schedule of race events : |
| Sunday 9 June 14:30 – 19:00: Scrutineering, Place de la République in Le Mans city centre. Monday 10 June 10:00 – 18:00: Scrutineering, Place de la République in Le Mans city centre. 18:00 – 18:30: Winners’ handprints ceremony Tuesday 11 June 10:30 – 10:45: Drivers group photograph 17:00 – 18:30: Autograph sessions Wednesday 12 June 10:00 – 15:00: Pit walk 16:00 – 20:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Practice Session 20:30 – 21:30: Road To Le Mans Practice Session 1 22:00 – 00:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Qualifying Session 1 Thursday 13 June 08:30 – 09:30: Road To Le Mans Practice Session 2 10:00 – 10:45: Ferrari Challenge Practice Session 1 11:25 – 12:10: Ferrari Challenge Practice Session 2 13:00 – 13:20: Road To Le Mans Qualifying Session 1 13:35 – 13:55: Road To Le Mans Qualifying Session 2 15:00 – 16:00: Ferrari Challenge Practice Session 17:30 – 18:25: Road To Le Mans Race 1 19:00 – 21:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Qualifying Session 1 22:00 – 00:00: 24 Hours of Le Mans Qualifying Session 2 Friday 14 June 10:00 – 20:00: Pit walk 11:00: Final of the Le Mans ESports Series 17:00 – 18:30: Drivers Parade (Parade des Pilotes) in the city centre Saturday 15 June 09:00 – 09:45: 24 Hours of Le Mans warm-up 10:15 – 11:00: Ferrari Challenge Race 11:30 – 12:25: Road To Le Mans Race 2 12:25 – 12:30: Le Mans Esports Series Podium 15:00: 87th 24 Hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans START Sunday 16 June 15:00: 87th 24 Hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans FINISH |
