[LM24] How Does the Le Mans Driver Licensing System Work...?

[Aysedasi]

OK, as raised by me elsewhere - can anyone update us (well, me if no-one else) as to how it works for LMP and GT drivers?

[Kpy]

From the 2011 regs:

3.4.2 - Definitions of the drivers categorisations :
Platinum: Professional driver generally recognised as a well-known
driver on the international scene, under the age of 55, and satisfying at
least one of the following criteria :
- has held a Super Licence (for Formula 1)
- has won the Le Mans 24 Hours outright,
- has been a Works Driver, paid by a car manufacturer
- has finished in the top 10 of an F3000, CART/Champcar, IRL or
GP2 Championship,
- has finished in the top 6 of an F3 International Series
(British/EuroF3) or major international single-seater Championship
(example : World Series by Renault)
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, although not
being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as a
professional driver by the Sports Committee.
Gold : Semi-Professional driver in international series or who has
distinguished himself in national Championships and satisfying at least
one of the following criteria :
- driver satisfying the criteria of Category A (platinum) but aged 55 to
59;
- has finished in the top three of a secondary international singleseater
series (A1 GP, Renault V6, FR2000 international, …)
- has finished in the top three of a national single-seater series (F3,
FR2000, …);
- has won the entry level single-seater (F.Ford – F-BMW, F-Zip,
Autosport Academy, …);
- has finished in the top three of the Porsche Supercup,
- has won a national or international manufacturer’s promotion series
(Porsche, Seat, Peugeot, Renault, …);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements although not
being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as
Gold by the Sports Committee.
Silver : Driver satisfying at the latest one of the following criteria :
- driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of Platinum and
Gold categories.
- driver satisfying the criteria of the platinum category but aged 60 or
over,
- driver has finished in 1st place in national Championships or
international series in association with a professional driver,
- driver has won a non-professional drivers series (Ferrari Challenge,
Maserati Trophéo, Lamborghini Supertrophy),
- Driver has competed in a single seater series for a full season
- is a driver whose performances and achievements although not
being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered asGold by the Sports Committee.
Silver : Driver satisfying at the latest one of the following criteria :
- driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of Platinum and
Gold categories.
- driver satisfying the criteria of the platinum category but aged 60 or
over,
- driver has finished in 1st place in national Championships or
international series in association with a professional driver,
- driver has won a non-professional drivers series (Ferrari Challenge,
Maserati Trophéo, Lamborghini Supertrophy),
- Driver has competed in a single seater series for a full season
- is a driver whose performances and achievements although not
being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Silver by the Sports Committee.
Bronze : Amateur driver. Any driver who was over 30 years old when
his first licence was issued, and who has little or no single-seater
experience.
3.4.3 - Recitification
Any driver has the right to ask the Sports Committee to rectify his
categorisation. He must sent a written request by email
(sport2@lemans.org) at least 15 days prior to the beginning of the first
event in which he takes part, with the support of all the necessary
proofs and documents. Without proof, the request will not be examined.
3.4.4 Only for the LMP2 group, the rule for the team's driver formation
according to the drivers' categorisations: Any 2 or 3 drivers' crew must
be made up of minimum one Silver or Bronze driver
3.4.5 - Only for the GTE Am group, a team of 2 or 3 drivers must
include one Platinum or Gold driver maximum.
3.4.6 - Only for the LMP1 group, Bronze drivers are not accepted.
3.4.7 - For the LM GTE group : the driver line up is free.

[Simmi]

Well, like all good regulations, there is plenty of room for manoeuvre in there.

[AGD]

I'm not sure where Drayson would fit in the regulations. Did Drayson do a full season of Formula Palmer? That could classify him as silver under "Driver has competed in a single seater series for a full season." Otherwise, I guess he would be classified under bronze unless he got special consideration. He did win an ALMS race in P1. I assume that would have to count as something. Anyway, we could have our explanation for Drayson's absence from P1 right here if he is considered to be a bronze driver.

[Simmi]

You'd like to think the ACO would have thrown Drayson a bone and classified him as Silver at least.

It's interesting how in the criteria they don't list sportscar related achievements such as an ALMS win, FLM/LMPC/GT3 etc. Surely if you've been through the race and qualification experience of Le Mans that has to count for something too.

[chewy23]

Those are the SRO regs regarding their GT series, Blancpain, FIA GT3, British GT etc to determine driver grading for pairings, they are not relevant to LM.
I believe all drivers in LM require a minimum of International B race licence, regardless of class.

[AndrewF31]

Art. 3 - Entries
3.4 Driver Categorisation

http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/...egulations.pdf

3.4.2 defines with more precision:

- Platinum - professional
- Gold - semi-professional
- Silver
- Bronze - amateur driver

A lot of details (and ifs) so it's better to read the regulation if you want all info (page 5).

The same article states the limitations by class:
- LMP1 - no Bronze (amateurs allowed) - so it seems Drayson and Miguel Amaral qualified as Silver drivers?
- LMP2 - at least 1 Silver or Bronze
- LM GTE - no restrictions
- LM GTE AM - only 1 Platinum or Gold driver allowed - basically 2 of the drivers are amateurs or semi-amateurs

[Pilgrimage]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

Art. 3 - Entries
3.4 Driver Categorisation

http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/...egulations.pdf

3.4.2 defines with more precision:

- Platinum - professional
- Gold - semi-professional
- Silver
- Bronze - amateur driver

A lot of details (and ifs) so it's better to read the regulation if you want all info (page 5).

The same article states the limitations by class:
- LMP1 - no Bronze (amateurs allowed) - so it seems Drayson and Miguel Amaral qualified as Silver drivers?
- LMP2 - at least 1 Silver or Bronze
- LM GTE - no restrictions
- LM GTE AM - only 1 Platinum or Gold driver allowed - basically 2 of the drivers are amateurs or semi-amateurs

Interesting - thanks.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by chewy23

Those are the SRO regs regarding their GT series, Blancpain, FIA GT3, British GT etc to determine driver grading for pairings, they are not relevant to LM.

The regs I quoted are cut and pasted from Le Mans 24 Hours Sporting regulations 2011, which is AndrewF31's link.

Article 3.4 is new for this year, hence it's in red in the regs, so

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

- LMP1 - no Bronze (amateurs allowed) - so it seems Drayson and Miguel Amaral qualified as Silver drivers?

there was no question of Bronze or Silver drivers last year.

Given their experience last year, there's no doubt that the ACO would class them as Silver drivers this year.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Kpy

Given their experience last year, there's no doubt that the ACO would class them as Silver drivers this year.

And not just experience from last year, experience from previous years of racing as well.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

And not just experience from last year, experience from previous years of racing as well.

Exactly !!

[AndrewF31]

I had never really looked up Miguel's history until I had a look at Quifel ASM's website. He's been racing for quite a few years now, with great results in LMS and decent results at LM24 too.

With this structure, they're basically telling rookies and amateurs to start their prototype adaptation phase with P2 and then move onto P1 if they qualify.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

I had never really looked up Miguel's history until I had a look at Quifel ASM's website. He's been racing for quite a few years now, with great results in LMS and decent results at LM24 too.

With this structure, they're basically telling rookies and amateurs to start their prototype adaptation phase with P2 and then move onto P1 if they qualify.

And it's a similar story with Mike Newton from RML, although his start was in GT cars (and I'm not sure RML are intending to move to LMP1 any time soon).