European Le Mans Series prepares for its French round in two weeks

It’s time to go racing again and the European Le Mans Series’ teams and drivers are getting ready for the next round of the 2014 season, to be held at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France.

While participants will be in place from Friday, 12 September to get set up in the Paul Ricard paddock, and go through the administrative and technical checks that take place before every race, spectators are due from Saturday morning, 13th.

Following the mandatory drivers’ briefing with race director Eduardo Freitas, cars will be on track at 10h30 for the first free practice session of the day.  After almost two months’ break, the teams and drivers from all the classes will be keen to work on their set ups and, during the 90-minute session, re-familiarise themselves with the 5.7km Circuit Paul Ricard layout. A second practice session will be held from 15h00 to 16h30 the same day.

On Sunday, 14 September the track opens at 08h30.   The LMGTE and GTC entrants will open proceedings with their qualifying session at 09h00 for a period of 20 minutes. This will be followed by qualifying for the LMP2 prototypes between 09h30 and 09h50.

Spectators will have the chance to get close to the cars between 10h30 and 11h45 in the pit lane and to get their favourite drivers’ autographs between 11h00 and 11h30.

During the pre-race period while cars go to the grid, spectators and aficionados of European endurance racing will be able to enjoy a good number of different entertainments, and the start of the 4 Hours of Paul Ricard will be given at 13h00.

Access to Circuit Paul Ricard’s grandstands is free for all. Those who wish to enter the paddocks and take part in the Pitwalk and autograph session can purchase a ticket for €10 for the weekend. This ticket also gives access to the Roof Top Party, organised by the Paul Ricard circuit on the rooftop terrace of the main building.

(ELMS PR)

Adam Sinclair