LMS 2009 Calendar

Robert RS · 10 Oct 2008, 14:27 (Ref:2308390)

Press release:

2008 was a cracking season! The Le Mans Series races contributed to giving the colours of Le Mans
and endurance racing an even higher profile on the international scene.
The number of spectators who flocked to the five circuits starting with Barcelona followed by Monza,
Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring and Silverstone grew exponentially, as they came to discover -or
rediscover- the fantastic on-track show provided by an extraordinary field of cars.

The 2009 calendar has been built with the wish to stick with this dynamic:
2009 Calendar*

8-9 March Official Test - Paul Ricard (France)
3-4-5 April 1000Km of Catalunya (Spain)
8-9-10 May 1000Km of Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
31 July -1-2 August 1000Km of Algarve (Portugal) – NIGHT RACE
28-29-30 August 1000Km of the Nürburgring (Germany)
11-12-13 September 1000Km of Silverstone (England)
*Subjected to the FIA World Council approval

A well-balanced season, with two races before the 24 Hours of Le Mans (12-13-14 June) and three
after, will meet many teams' expectations. Le Mans Series will be back on circuits where the 1000 Km
races are a tradition now such as Spa-Francorchamps, the Nürburgring or Silverstone. The Spanish
experience in Catalunya was a big success. Thus, the start of the season will be given on the
Barcelonese track for the second year.
A novelty on this calendar is the arrival of a new circuit in a new country. The Algarve racetrack in
Portugal will host the third round of the season. All teams and drivers, discovering a new layout, will
contest on equal terms for this Le Mans Series round to be one of the first international competitions on
this brand new circuit. The particularity of this round: it will be a night race! Starting by the end of the
afternoon, under a milder temperature, in August in Portugal, it will finish by the middle of the night.
What for a good opportunity to create, during one week-end, the Le Mans atmosphere for the
Portuguese and the tourists who are very numerous at this season!
To be noticed, the Paul Ricard circuit will offer the opportunity to the public to attend for the first time
the Le Mans Series Official Test!

Being studied:
- A prospective sixth race which, if was confirmed, would be announced at the latest on November,
15th on the occasion of the Le Mans Series official Prize Giving Ceremony.
- The move of the format of one race into a two 500 Km-rounds

jonm2 · 10 Oct 2008, 14:34 (Ref:2308396)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert RS

Being studied:
- A prospective sixth race which, if was confirmed, would be announced at the latest on November,
15th on the occasion of the Le Mans Series official Prize Giving Ceremony.
- The move of the format of one race into a two 500 Km-rounds

Hmmm brno?

Dead-Eye · 10 Oct 2008, 14:35 (Ref:2308397)

What happened to Monza?

johntt · 10 Oct 2008, 14:36 (Ref:2308398)

Wheres Monza?

I prefer the idea of 1000km events for the classics like Monza, Silverstone, Spa and Nurburgring, for places like Catalunya and Algarve 2x 500km race would be a good idea.

gwyllion · 10 Oct 2008, 14:38 (Ref:2308401)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert RS

Being studied:
- The move of the format of one race into a two 500 Km-rounds

One race on Saturday and one on Sunday? Wouldn't this increase costs?

Robert RS · 10 Oct 2008, 15:11 (Ref:2308429)

Monza has mostly been dropped because of a complete lack of interest from italian spectators. At least that is what I've been told by Patrick Peter at the Nurburgring.

At the time part of the idea for two races in a weekend was to have a parc fermé between both races so that it would essentially be one race spread out over two days. I'm not a fan of this idea though, even if it makes more room for support series (and thus a better and more varied show for spectators on sunday).

knighty · 10 Oct 2008, 15:13 (Ref:2308432)

while I totally agree running costs are a big consideration and the credit crunch etc..........5 races is still a bit laim in my opinion.........I was hoping to see a few more so it would be 8 or 9 races........the ALMS is currently 11 and that works a treat, as the time between the current 5 or 6 races is just too long, and I get quite bored waiting for the next.........also all the LMS circuits are big open fast circuits like Silverstone, Monza, Spa and LeMans itself.......a few medium to smaller circuits are required IMHO

Stefvh · 10 Oct 2008, 15:22 (Ref:2308440)

mmm, won't there be a clash with the Spa 24h race ?

LeMans.pt · 10 Oct 2008, 15:25 (Ref:2308443)

Quote:

Originally Posted by knighty

while I totally agree running costs are a big consideration and the credit crunch etc..........5 races is still a bit laim in my opinion.........I was hoping to see a few more so it would be 8 or 9 races........the ALMS is currently 11 and that works a treat, as the time between the current 5 or 6 races is just too long, and I get quite bored waiting for the next.........also all the LMS circuits are big open fast circuits like Silverstone, Monza, Spa and LeMans itself.......a few medium to smaller circuits are required IMHO

Completely.... 8 races at least would be a good starting point. Things are not nowadays and there is a serious financial problem that requires more contention in the budgets, but 5 races, even 6, is not what LMS needs in order to get more media ans public attention. Its all to fast, bu also to long (as "long" being log time without races)

Prepare yourselfs to see the "algarve carroucel".... and i will be there !!!!!!!

About the 2x 500km races... are we nuts?!!!! A mix of 1000km and 500Km races it would be nice, but this is endurance racing not sprit racing! There must be an equilibrium between endurance an tv friendly races. We canot burried the all concept of the series in order to get Eurosport atention.

Two races in a weekend looks like athing of a minor championship, with all the respect to WTCC.

**FIRE** · 10 Oct 2008, 15:28 (Ref:2308447)

Dissapointing calendar.

So the Algarve night race is at Sunday evening. Isn't a race on Saturday evening more logic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by knighty

while I totally agree running costs are a big consideration and the credit crunch etc..........5 races is still a bit laim in my opinion.........I was hoping to see a few more so it would be 8 or 9 races........the ALMS is currently 11 and that works a treat, as the time between the current 5 or 6 races is just too long, and I get quite bored waiting for the next.........also all the LMS circuits are big open fast circuits like Silverstone, Monza, Spa and LeMans itself.......a few medium to smaller circuits are required IMHO

I 100% agree

HORNDAWG · 10 Oct 2008, 15:30 (Ref:2308450)

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeMans.pt

Completely.... 8 races at least would be a good starting point. Things are not nowadays and there is a serious financial problem that requires more contention in the budgets, but 5 races, even 6, is not what LMS needs in order to get more media ans public attention. Its all to fast, bu also to long (as "long" being log time without races)

Prepare yourselfs to see the "algarve carroucel".... and i will be there !!!!!!!

About the 2x 500km races... are we nuts?!!!! A mix of 1000km and 500Km races it would be nice, but this is endurance racing not sprit racing! There must be an equilibrium between endurance an tv friendly races. We canot burried the all concept of the series in order to get Eurosport atention.

Two races in a weekend looks like athing of a minor championship, with all the respect to WTCC.

Is this a hint of the sixth event being one of the Asian rounds that are reported (ALMS State of the Series/09 schedule) to be two races each?

L.P.

gwyllion · 10 Oct 2008, 15:47 (Ref:2308460)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Is this a hint of the sixth event being one of the Asian rounds that are reported (ALMS State of the Series/09 schedule) to be two races each?

Brno was rumored to be the 6th event.

LeMans.pt · 10 Oct 2008, 15:47 (Ref:2308461)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Is this a hint of the sixth event being one of the Asian rounds that are reported (ALMS State of the Series/09 schedule) to be two races each?

L.P.

Think so? I hope not...

I hope to Brno in the schedule, and i don´t see the interest of ALMS and/or LMS going to Asia. For that, get courage, and start a World Championship!

The Badger · 10 Oct 2008, 16:36 (Ref:2308484)

Im all for Brno ..... Im planning to go see that round .

airbusA346 · 10 Oct 2008, 16:50 (Ref:2308490)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefvh

mmm, won't there be a clash with the Spa 24h race ?

No FIA GT Calender yet as far as I am aware, so they might move the Spa 24H.

And it also says: "Subjected to the FIA World Council approval"

Tom.

Robert RS · 10 Oct 2008, 17:05 (Ref:2308497)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

Dissapointing calendar.

So the Algarve night race is at Sunday evening. Isn't a race on Saturday evening more logic?

I 100% agree

Indeed, a race on saturday would have made much more sense!

However 8 or 9 1000km races would have a massive impact on team budgets and kill the series.

LeMans.pt · 10 Oct 2008, 17:12 (Ref:2308501)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert RS

However 8 or 9 1000km races would have a massive impact on team budgets and kill the series.

They dont have to be all 1000km races. Keep the traditional 1000km races (Spa, Nurburgring, Silverstone, Monza(?) or other instead of Monza - 4 races total) and the new ones make them 500km, or even some of 380km like we saw in the eighty's.

But... Algarve at Night?!!!.... 10 Hours race...

JAG · 10 Oct 2008, 18:00 (Ref:2308526)

I don't understand the desire for 8+ races, 6 LMS, plus Le Mans, plus ALMS opportunities is enough for anyone.

Admitedly 2 x 500km races is strange, it must be a TV (Eurosport Live?) request, and it would be good to see a race on TV on the Saturday, then going to the event on the Sunday.

panoz.lmp1 · 10 Oct 2008, 18:29 (Ref:2308548)

Brno maybe in July: http://www.projectlemans.de/rennseri...mine-2009.html

Subaru_WRX_STi · 10 Oct 2008, 18:47 (Ref:2308558)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefvh

mmm, won't there be a clash with the Spa 24h race ?

I guess...yes, the Spa 24 Hours are always in run the last week of July so it will be a BIG BIG clash, how on earth ACO and Peter could bring a creazy idea like this, if a race must be postponed it the Portuguese one !!!

panoz.lmp1 · 10 Oct 2008, 18:51 (Ref:2308563)

Spa is one week before....

Subaru_WRX_STi · 10 Oct 2008, 18:54 (Ref:2308566)

Quote:

Originally Posted by panoz.lmp1

Spa is one week before....

are you sure ?

The Badger · 10 Oct 2008, 18:56 (Ref:2308570)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

I don't understand the desire for 8+ races, 6 LMS, plus Le Mans, plus ALMS opportunities is enough for anyone

Did you not think the Group C calander worked then Jag ?
Plenty more races with full grids ..... If the teams are happy with that , why not ?

panoz.lmp1 · 10 Oct 2008, 19:00 (Ref:2308574)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subaru_WRX_STi

are you sure ?

Not 100%. But somwhere i heard that and the only clash should be LMS Nürburgring and FIA-GT Bukarest.

rdjones · 10 Oct 2008, 19:11 (Ref:2308583)

I have to say I like the sound of the round in Portugal, which give me an idea.....

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