[LM24] Le Mans 2020 (19/20 September) - Who Is Going?

[whitemr2]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I think they know they have to give us something for it....

Agree with that, we will know SOON.

[Deleted]

https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/29/coronavirus-macron-doesn-t-rule-out-new-nationwide-lockdown

Is ACO going either... they're probably starting to hope the race would have been in 1 weeks time, instead of 3

[Aysedasi]

Hmmm, not looking very good, is it......?

[Samoan Attorney]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Hmmm, not looking very good, is it......?

It pains me to add to this thread but the media are not going to have a good time of it, even if the race takes place.

This is what I have been sent by a few sources........

I have the COVID Media protocol from the ACO. Not even a beer in town. Direct Track/hotel interface. Food from stalls at the track. That’ll be an expensive burger then. Last time one of those f*****s wanted 20 euros for a baguette!

I understand each photographer must choose a place (pits, other side of the starting line, Dunlop Curve, Tertre Rouge, first or second Chicane but cannot move during Friday to Sunday end of the race. They must shoot in the same place and can’t return to the press room. Normally nobody could speak with the media (and vice versa) including photographers – no paddock access.
I also know that people with credentials must have a test PCR
And did they come to France 14 days before the scrutineering ?
Don’t look good at all.

So who would want to shoot under those restrictions?

The first race I will miss since '83...........ah well, all things must pass.

[GT6]

The more i hear the less i think it will happen, still hearing from other forum that marshal shortage is getting worse every day, and still 3 weeks to go

[Deleted]

Earlier on, weren't they talking of November as backup plan...

[GT6]

Le mans in the snow, now that would be different, but think November would be a no no as possibility of ice and fast race cars is a real recipe for disaster.

[Aysedasi]

Sounds pretty dreadful for the media John, on that basis I can';t see anyone bothering to go, unless they're local and prepared to put up with that kind of restriction. I still don't see lack of marshals being any issue, although it could be cited as one of the reasons for a cancellation. If it is cancelled, I'm pretty confident it won't be rescheduled.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by GT6

Le mans in the snow, now that would be different, but think November would be a no no as possibility of ice and fast race cars is a real recipe for disaster.

According to this site, it does not seem to snow at LM very much during winter months
https://www.worldweatheronline.com/le-mans-weather-averages/pays-de-la-loire/fr.aspx

According to this, the "cool season" typically starts from Nov 16
https://weatherspark.com/y/44458/Average-Weather-in-Le-Mans-France-Year-Round

Wikipedia says 1981-2010 record temp for Nov was 22 celcius, and record low -12, with avg high of 11 and avg low of 4.

For nov 14, sunrise would be at 8.04 and sunset at 17.22
https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/france/le-mans?month=11&year=2020
This would be around 2 hours less of daylight than Daytona 24
https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/daytona-beach?month=1&year=2021

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Sounds pretty dreadful for the media John, on that basis I can';t see anyone bothering to go, unless they're local and prepared to put up with that kind of restriction. I still don't see lack of marshals being any issue, although it could be cited as one of the reasons for a cancellation. If it is cancelled, I'm pretty confident it won't be rescheduled.

But if they have to cancel it they'd also have to transfer all the entries to the 2021 race (because of all the promised/earned auto entries and the LMP1 abandonement) which in turn would likely also deplete the grids in the ACO championships once they're no longer racing to get LM eligibility

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Chiana

But if they have to cancel it they'd also have to transfer all the entries to the 2021 race (because of all the promised/earned auto entries and the LMP1 abandonement) which in turn would likely also deplete the grids in the ACO championships once they're no longer racing to get LM eligibility

Yep, not a very pretty prospect for the ACO. It won't be cancelled unless the government or the prefecture force their hand.

Christmas cards, anyone.....?

[Samoan Attorney]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Sounds pretty dreadful for the media John, on that basis I can';t see anyone bothering to go, unless they're local and prepared to put up with that kind of restriction. I still don't see lack of marshals being any issue, although it could be cited as one of the reasons for a cancellation. If it is cancelled, I'm pretty confident it won't be rescheduled.

The restrictions are pretty much in line with the F1 protocols, but you are right, who would want to operate under such restrictions, unless you had to? I hope that the race goes ahead for the many people that will depend on it, but it will be without me. Maybe I have seen the end of La Sarthe, what do normal people do in June?

[Aysedasi]

God knows? Prior to this year, I hadn't seen a full June month at home since 1985.....

[GT6]

This was also my first year i had not spend a week in France since early eighties

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by Chiana

https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/29/coronavirus-macron-doesn-t-rule-out-new-nationwide-lockdown

Is ACO going either... they're probably starting to hope the race would have been in 1 weeks time, instead of 3

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Hmmm, not looking very good, is it......?

We can consider our president uses the lockdown as a threat......What happens in La Sarthe? For sure there are more positives cases than elsewhere inthe region but the situation is getting better and better if we look at the last statistic.
As a well known president say " the more people you test the more positive cases you find"........true of course. But the cases are often young people and asymptomatic. No people died in La Sarthe the last weeks, a few hospitalized people and no one in intensive care.

We have to be optimistic. Maybe, the only problem is to find marshals and especially french 24 hours confirmed marshals if the foreign ons can't attend. Maybe not.......

[Aysedasi]

As I've said to Simon Eric, I simply cannot believe that the ACO would allow the world's greatest motor race to be cancelled due to a lack of marshals. I'm sure there are plenty who would be willing to 'bubble' for a sufficient time in order to work at the race. They should have just kept the ones who were at Le Castellet yesterday.....

[batmobile]

Yes Andrew. Probably but I know all the marshals are not certified for Le Mans (they could change the rules) and they are not all leisure men and will they have the same possibility to get an extra holiday in september with the covid than in June with a normal situation?
I agree with you "how could they cancel because of a lack of marshals"!!!!!!!It would be amazing!! But in our strange period...............

[GT6]

Well the bike 24 hour went ok so keep your fingers crossed for 3 weeks time

[Greem]

The entirety of my UK based group have now decided to not travel to LM this year. That is a very large percentage of the number needed to run that poste.

(I decided weeks ago, and it still hurts)

[Aysedasi]

Just to clarify Graeme, they were allowed to go? It's their decision? Only rumour was that UK marshals were being told they were not required.....

[Bodysnatcher]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Just to clarify Graeme, they were allowed to go? It's their decision? Only rumour was that UK marshals were being told they were not required.....

yup, it was our decision not to go
nobody was turning us away

We were still getting official communications up to yesterday, which was detailing the requirement for a certified PCR covid negative test result if you were marshalling anywhere within the Bugatti circuit. For postes outwith that area (like us) a PCR test was highly recommended. Masks have to be worn at all times. (plus a copy of the full 18 page covid protocol)

[S griffin]

Fingers crossed they find enough marshals to do the job. It would be a massive shame if we had to cancel it for that reason alone

[PascaLM]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Fingers crossed they find enough marshals to do the job. It would be a massive shame if we had to cancel it for that reason alone

If a significant number of marshals is missing, the only solution would be to set permanent slow-zones in some straights.

[Gerard C]

I think there's a mandatory number of marshals to legally run the race. Which is in no way comparable to the bike race held on the Bugatti. The duration with a long in dark period at this time of the year makes things very difficult, you need at least the double of marshals than required for any other meeting. Everything is specific.
As to slow zones in the straights I dont think its viable. Just my opinion.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by PascaLM

If a significant number of marshals is missing, the only solution would be to set permanent slow-zones in some straights.

My goodness, that can't possibly be an option Pascal? It would completely ruin the race.

[S griffin]

I second that, we don’t watch Le Mans to see them follow each other at reduced speed