Le Mans Series
Le Mans Series confirms 2010 calendar
During the Prize Giving Ceremony of the Le Mans Series this evening at the Le Mans circuit a revised provisional calendar was announced. Weeks of rumours and guessing came to an end when the organisers were able to announce the final circuits on the five-race calendar for 2010.
After the annual pre-season test at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit on March 7-8 the opening race weekend will take place at the same circuit on April 10-11. Unlike the rest of the season the race at Paul Ricard will not be a six hour long race. For the first ever Le Mans Series race at the French circuit the race distance will be extended to an eight hour race. The race is planned to start late in the morning with a finish at 7 pm.
As confirmed before the second race of the season will take place at the famous Spa-Francorchamps on May 8-9. The third race of the season will again be held in Portugal on the Portimão circuit. This time however the start of the race will be earlier in the day, with the finish of the race still set to take place at night. The Portuguese round will take place on July 16-17, one month after the Le Mans 24 Hours.
After Portugal it is time for the second new addition to the Le Mans Series calendar. On August 20-21 the teams will be racing at the Hungaroring near Budapest, Hungary. It is the first time the Le Mans Series will race in Eastern Europe and the inaugural event at the Hungaroring will be the season’s second night race. For spectators this circuit is probably the best of the calen
The season ends (almost traditionally) with the Autosport 1000 KM of Silverstone on September 11-12 and will again have its traditional format (day time race and maximum of six hours.
7-8 March // Paul Ricard Circuit (official test)
10-11 April // Paul Ricard Circuit (8 hours)
8-9 May // Spa-Francorchamps (1000km)
16-17 July // Portimao (1000km – night race)
21-22 August // Hungaroring (1000km – night race)
11-12 September // Silverstone (1000km)
Discussion
11 comments for “Le Mans Series confirms 2010 calendar”
Post a comment
Also visit
Categories
Recent Comments
- Greg on GT1 World: Pirelli and Ferrari join the series
- kw on Toyota Racing finalises 2012 driver line-up
- kw on Le Mans 24 Hours – The 2012 Entries
- kw on 2012 ELMS Entry List: Protos in force
- lms on 2012 ELMS Entry List: Protos in force
- Kurt on 2012 ELMS Entry List: Protos in force
- SchellZ on 2012 ELMS Entry List: Protos in force
- Paul on 2012 ELMS Entry List: Protos in force
2x Paul Ricard!!
Catching some rays after a north european winter!!
Me Like!!
This is quite an exceptional schedule, I’m very happy with the decision to extend paul ricard, it’s one of the most amazing circuits in the world. and 2 night races? this will be the best lms season yet.
Every series is doing its best to entice Audi and Peugeot to race. The ALMS moved up Laguna seca to May, so they have a 12hr and 6hr race before the lemans 24h.
I think the LMS made the first race 8hrs seemingly for the same reason. To at least attract peugeot to show up for those 2 races at least.
Sad to see, there’s no race at the Nürburgring.
Laguna Seca used to have the IMSA Camel GT races in May and the PPG CART Indycar races in the fall. The Nürburgring GP track is just dull.
2011 return of the 1,000 km of Monza?
The Budapest metropolitan area is the largest commuter area in Central-East Europe.
Not a bad calendar at all. I like the idea of the 8 hour Paul Ricard race – I just hope they use the full mile long mistral. The Hungaroring is a good addition as it’s a proper race track. Just wish we had Monza or the Nurburgring instead of Portimao – I’m not a fan of these modern facilities.
That is a really great way to attract Porsche and Audi to the series….no home race!
The Nürburgring is my closest track and I can’t express my sadness/disappointment/utter pissed-off-ness at the fact that I won’t be heading up the A1 in August for the race. I’ve been loyally attending LMS events since 2006 and to be kicked in the teeth by the organisers makes me feel betrayed.
As I mentioned in my previous post, if the LMS is going to expand into a truly global championship then they must go where the interest is. Germany is still the home to five of the world’s biggest car manufacturers, four of which have won Le Mans in the last 20 years.
Don’t be surprised when the series dumps the Hungaroring and goes back to a PROPER circuit in 2011.
Somewhere in October German magazines reported that the ADAC Nordrhein had told the Le Mans Series it would not extend its contract, so I’m not sure if the LMEO is to blame in this case.
Mind you that the Nürburgring has replaced this race with the FIA GT1 World Championship…
Audi is going to spa to prepare for LeMans. Peugeot went last year. So chances are they would want to go again to see what Audi is working with.
There will be a International Championship, they are waiting for the economy to flesh out a bit more and it will. I think 2011 with the new P1/2 cars will be apart of that.
Really happy to see the Hungaroring on this calendar. Might be the first time I’ll be attending a LMS race on-site.