The list of the first 38 cars selected for the 74th Le Mans
24 Hours
After being informed of the decisions taken by entrants who
have an automatic entry, the Selection Committee of the 74th
Le Mans 24 Hours has examined all the requests received and
has chosen the first 38 cars.
First of all some facts: - Fifteen out of the 24 automatic
entries awarded on the circuits in 2005 were validated within
the required deadline, as they had to confirm their participation
by 9th January 2006. An earlier release stated that 16 automatic
entries that had been validated before the Convers Team (GT1)
withdrew at the last minute and substituted an entry under
the name of the Convers Menx Team (same category). - By 18th
January 2006, the closing date for entries, 79 requests had
been sent in to the Association Sportive Automobile A.C.O
des “24 Heures du Mans.”
- The breakdown of the 79 entries is as follows:
16 LM P1s
18 LM P2s
19 LM GT1s
26 LM GT2s
Daniel Poissenot, the A.C.O Sports Manager and Le Mans 24
Hours Clerk of the Course, said just how satisfied Mr. Jean-Claude
Plassart, the President of l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest
and the Selection Committee are concerning the quality of
the entries received. “While the number of entries is
very similar to last year, we see that the technical level
has risen again and that there has been a comforting increase
in the GT1 category,” he said. In addition, to the variety
already seen in LM P1 and LM P2, the Grand Touring category
has gained both in diversity and numbers with the arrival
of a Lamborghini Murcielago in LM GT1 and the Ferrari 430
in LM GT2. 1/2
The selection of the first 23 cars in addition to the 15
automatic entries has been made in accordance with the criteria
laid out in the event’s supplementary regulations, “taking
into account in particular the season-long commitment by the
entrants in one of the existing Le Mans Series,” as
Daniel Poissnenot explained.
The Selection Committee will announce the names to be added
to the first list after the Sebring 12-Hour race on 18th March,
the opening round of the American Le Mans Series. This will
be Selections Act 2 for the 74th Le Mans 24 Hours, which takes
place in the A.C.O’s centenary year. Another 12 cars
will be chosen to bring the overall total to 50, which will
line up on the grid on Saturday 17th June for a start exceptionally
put back to 17h00.
In addition to the 50 cars picked the Selection Committee
will draw up a list of eight reserves, which will be called
on only if there are official withdrawals before 26th May
2006.
In 2007, the official number of starters will be increased
to 55 after 5 additional pits have been built and the paddock
enlarged in keeping with the circuit renovation plan and the
work programmed after June 2006.
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