- What purpose does the Test Day serve?
The aim of this day of free practice is to give the entrants the opportunity to come and test their cars on the 13.629-km Le Mans 24-Hours circuit. This allows the teams to set up home inside the circuit without having to move their equipment/motor homes/transporters, etc. as the next rendezvous follow one another in quick succession with scrutineering on 11-12 June, official practice on 14-15 and the race itself on 17-18 June.
- Who must take part in the Test Day?
In 2017, the Test Day is reserved exclusively and is obligatory for the 60 cars and their drivers entered for the Le Mans 24 Hours, and for those drivers who have never raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours or have not been on the list of confirmed drivers since 2012.
In addition, in compliance with the regulations, drivers who have never raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours, or who have not raced in the event for at least five years (all races since 2012) or drivers in the bronze category who did not take part in the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours must follow training on a simulator agreed by the ACO. They must also cover at least 10 laps including a minimum of five timed laps at the Test Day. The ACO reserves itself the right not to accept a driver if his/her performance and/or skills do not meet the required standards.
Teams can also enter other drivers for the Test Day (maximum 5 drivers per car).
- Which cars?
The following cars are eligible to take part:
- The two prototype categories that race in the Le Mans 24 Hours (LM P1 and LM P2), and the two LM GTE categories that race in the Le Mans 24 Hours (LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am), invited to the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours according to the terms of the Le Mans 24-Hours supplementary regulations.
- Cars not invited to the Le Mans 24 Hours but which fulfil the conditions of experimentation linked to the event or to the FIA World Endurance Championship (none this year).
- Innovative cars limited to two (none this year).
- Which regulations?
The safety and sporting regulations of the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours and the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship are applicable (except specific cases) to all cars taking part in the 2017 Test Day.
- Which circuit?
The Test Day takes place on the 13.629-kilometer circuit used for the Le Mans 24 Hours specially installed for the occasion. Roads will be closed to traffic in the early morning of 4th June and reopened shortly after 18h00 after the end of practice.
- When?
Scrutineering and administrative checks will take place at the circuit starting on Thursday 1st June.
Scrutineering
Thursday 1st June: 10:00-18:00
Friday 2nd June: 09:00-18:00
Saturday 3rd June: 08:30-16:00
Administrative checks
Friday 2nd June: 09:00-18:00
Saturday 3rd June: 08:30-16:00
Practice will take place on Sunday 4th June from 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00.
- How to attend
The Test Day is open to the public. Spectators who have a general enclosure ticket (minimum) can attend this free practice session.
Those who haven’t bought entrance tickets for the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours can purchase their Test Day general enclosure tickets at the price of 21 euros per ticket or 100 euros for the Test Day paddock card at the ticket booths around the circuit only. The Le Houx car park/welcome zone will be open: price 15 euros per space. Access is free for young people born after 4th June 2001 accompanied by an adult who has a ticket.
People can access the circuit from Friday 2nd June onwards. All the fans can walk up the pit lane, discover the pits and see the teams making the final adjustments to their cars.