Le Mans 24 Hours to take place in August to allow attendance

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest organiser, in liason with the World Endurance Championship and the Fédération Internationale Automobile has postponed the 89th running of the Le Mans, which was originally planned to take place on its traditional date of the 12th and 13th June.

Instead, the race will take place on 21-22nd August 2021. Moving it from the second to the fourth round of the World Endurance Championship.

The ACO has made this decision early, to allow competitors, organisers and spectators as much visibility as possible while maintaining the WEC Calendar. At the current stage, all other events held at the circuit remain unchanged, including the 24 hour bike race held on the Bugatti Circuit, although the ACO is working closely in case other events are impacted.

This years race will see the debut of the Le Mans Hypercar class, as well as the return of Corvette to the GT grid. For this reason, and to allow fans the chance to attend, I am sure the date change will come as a good thing, as Europe and the world tries to return to some degree of normality. It will just mean a potentially warmer race, as well as one with a later sunset and earlier sunrise.

“Although it was a tough decision to make, it is the right one,” said Pierre Fillon, ACO President. The organisation had previously denied there was a date privately agreed for later in the year, should the Pandemic not improve before the June schedule.

“Holding the Le Mans 24 Hours behind closed doors for the second year running would be unthinkable. We are therefore doing all we can to avoid that happening and to give competitors a clear view of the whole season. We are working very hard to put on a safe event, with all the necessary health precautions in place.”

Pierre Fillon

The 24 hour race has been held annually since 1923, and is one of the most famous motor races to be held globally. Historic stories have been written, such as Ford snatching a victory from Ferrari back in the 60s, to the only non-pistoned engine victory in 1991 with the screaming Mazxa 787B.

The circuit combines closed public roads and purpose built circuit in a fast, 13km adrenaline filled lap. The Mulsanne Straight stretches over 6km and sees speeds of other 200mph, although they have since added a right entry and left entry chicane to keep speeds safe. The record, however, is held by the WM P88-Peugeot at an impressive 252mph during the 1988 staging.

This delay will hopefully mean thousands of motorsport fans can soon descent on the small village for the annual celebration, before watching a titanic battle in the French sunshine. What it will also mean, is that if the Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place, as scheduled, there wont be the traditional race up the hill in the Le mans winning car, as usually happens.

Though, the date does not clash with any Formula 1 weekend.