MEDIA KIT SUMMARY THE PAST BELONGS TO US! 3 IN SHORT 4 SCHEDULE 4 SIX GRIDS, 24 HOURS OF ON-TRACK ACTION 5-7 FAMOUS DRIVERS 7-8 GRIDS ENTRY LIST 9-12 GROUP C RACING KICKS OFF THE EVENT! 13 GROUP C RACING ENTRY LIST 14 PORSCHE CLASSIC RACE LE MANS 15 JAGUAR CLASSIC CHALLENGE 15-19 CLUBS 20 GLOBAL ENDURANCE LEGENDS 20-21 LE MANS HERITAGE CLUB 22 PORSCHE AND FFVE EXHIBITION 23 LITTLE BIG MANS 23 THE VILLAGE 24 ENTERTAINMENT 24 THE DRIVE-IN 24 VENTE ARTCURIAL 25 TICKETING 26 PRIVILEGE PACKAGE 26 DRESS CODE 27 MEDIA 28 16 HOURS LIVE ON VIDEO 29 PRESS RELEASES 30 THE PAST BELONGS TO US! The Le Mans 24-Hours race writes history and Le Mans Classic tells the story! In 2018 Le Mans Classic will be staged for the ninth time as it is held on a biennial basis. The event created by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and Peter Auto almost 20 years ago has become a red-letter date in the world of the motor car. Rendezvous after rendezvous this fantastic retrospective has conquered the public, the entrants, the makes clubs, guardians of our marvellous automotive heritage, as well as exhibitors who flock to the circuit in increasingly large numbers. In 2016 there were 123 000 spectators, 600 cars on the track and 8500 cars brought along by the clubs. So what more is needed to confirm the growing success of this meeting the second biggest motoring event in France in terms of spectator attendance? In 70 years of the history of the greatest endurance event, the 2018 Le Mans Classic will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Alpine’s victory in the 24 Hours, the 25th of the historic triple of the Peugeot 905, some of which will add excitement to the Group C race that has been the curtain-raiser since the last meeting. And 70 years ago Porsche really came of age with the launch of its first series production car, the famous 356. There will also be numerous celebrations of other iconic makes and models starting with the 50th anniversary of Ligier, the Ferrari 365 Daytona, the BMW 2002… Le Mans Classic extends the past, which is not forgotten but has to be cultivated: a past that belongs to us which must be lived. “For mankind the past bears a striking resemblance to the future. By telling him what was, isn’t it always telling him what will be?” said the great French thinker Honoré de Balzac who influenced the writers of his day and the following centuries. IN SHORT 123 000 spectators 8 500 club cars coming from Europe 1 000 drivers from more than 30 countries 800 medias 700 racing cars 200 exhibitors 100 junior drivers 18 races in 24 heures 2 concours (Clubs & Le Mans Heritage Club) 1 drive-in SCHEDULE FRIDAY 6 JULY 09:00 - 02:40 Clubs parade Day qualifying session Group C Racing - Qualifying session Clubs parade Global Endurance Legends Night practice session SATURDAY 7 JULY 08:00 Clubs parade Jaguar Classic Challenge Global Endurance Legends Group C Racing Porsche Classic Race Le Mans Little Big Mans Round 1 Grid 1 Grid 2 Grid 3 Grid 4 Grid 5 Grid 6 SUNDAY 8 JULY Round 2 Grid 1 Grid 2 Grid 3 Grid 4 Grid 5 Grid 6 Round 3 Grid 1 Grid 2 Grid 3 Grid 4 Grid 5 Grid 6 17:30 Prize giving SIX GRIDS, 24 HOURS OF ON-TRACK ACTION To be a racing driver is definitely for most boys - and some girls - a childhood dream. But many are called and few chosen! Historic motor racing gives them the opportunity to fulfil their dream. Furthermore, Le Mans Classic offers the ultimate experience: to compete on the long 24 Hours of Le Mans layout, facing the world’s most famous straight… the Mulsanne Straight. As the aim is to offer spectators and entrants equally-matched fields in terms of performance and historic pertinence, the 500 racing cars are divided up into six grids, each of which corresponds to a particular period. The cars selected are those that have taken part in the Le Mans 24 Hours between 1923 and 1981. Priority is given to cars that have actually raced in the event in their particular era. For each grid 10 reserves take part in the day and night-time practice sessions to be ready to fill a place left vacant by the withdrawal or retirement of another car. A Le Mans-type start as used between 1925 and 1969 will be given for grids 1-2-3-4. Flying starts will be used for the others. GRID 1 (1923-1939) Models representing famous makes which shone on the Le Mans circuit in the pre-war era are back on the scene of their exploits. These include Aston Martin Speed Models, 4,5L Blower Bentleys, BMW 328s, Bugatti Type 35s, Delage 3 Litre Sports, Delahaye 135 Ss, Lagonda LG45s, Mercedes-Benz SSKs, Morgan 4/4s, Talbot 105s, etc. This grid presents a wide variety of makes and models transforming it into an unprecedented retrospective of this period. GRID 2 (1949-1956) The post-war period marked a turning point in car technology with better developed engines and more attention paid to aerodynamics. The result was faster cars entered by increasingly professional works teams. Henceforth, the on-track battles between entrants were much closer. It’s this epoch that the drivers in this grid at the wheel of Aston Martin DBs, Austin Healey 100 Ms, Jaguar D-Types, Lancia Aurelias, Lotus XIs, Maserati 250 Ss, Porsche 550s, Triumph TR2s, etc. GRID 3 (1957-1961) AC Ace Bristosl, Aston Martin DB4 GTs, Austin Healey 3000s, Chevrolet Corvette C1s, Ferrari 250 GT Berlinettas, Lotus XVs, Maserati T61 Birdcages, Porsche 356s, etc. Among cars to watch out for the spectators is the unique Lister Knobbly and the famous Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan. GRID 4 (1962-1965) This grid illustrates the increase in the number of America-built cars entered for the Sarthe event as it includes several GT40s, Shelby Cobra 289s Shelby GT 350s and Chevrolet Corvettes. Back in that era the main opposition to the American cars came from European machines and it is again the case. Leading the charge is Ferrari with a 250 LM and several 275 GTBs. There are also E-Type Jaguars including chassis 49 FXN, the low-drag special built as part of the run of 12 lightweight cars produced in 1963. Porsche will be represented by several 904s. Two Alpines will also be present with one M63 (the first car developed by the Dieppe firm for sports car racing) and one M64. GRID 5 (1966-1971) This grid reunites the legendary Ferrari 512s and Porsche 917s in a remake of the film Le Mans with Steve McQueen! It also includes Chevron B19s, Ford GT40 MkIIs, Lola T70s and the fabulous turbine- powered Howmet TX. Alpine will be represented by two A210s, which won their category at Le Mans from 1966 to 1969. GRID 6 (1972-1981) This grid is a mix of major makes (BMW, Ferrari, Porsche) and small constructors (Duckam's, Moynet, Tecma). It comprises a number of models that marked their epoch, including the 1976 Inaltera, the first prototype designed by Jean Rondeau, which is also on the entry list with Henri Pescarolo and Julien Beltoise (whose father was one of the team’s works drivers at the time) at the wheel. Other cars that will attract a lot of attention are the Gulf Mirage Gr7 and a Ford Gran Torino from the very popular NASCAR Championship. 10 FORMER WINNERS AT THE START Among the thousand drivers from more than 30 nationalities who will be behind the wheel during the ninth staging of Le Mans Classic on 6-7-8 July on the big Le Mans circuit are ten former winners of the Le Mans 24 Hours: Jürgen Barth (D), Romain Dumas (F), Loïc Duval (F), Jan Lammers (NL), Gérard Larrousse (F), Klaus Ludwig (D), Jochen Mass (D), Stéphane Ortelli (F), Henri Pescarolo (F) and Marko Werner (D). In all they have racked up a total of 19 victories and 147 participations in the greatest endurance race in the world between 1967 and 2018. The outstanding figure among them is Henri Pescarolo who holds the record for the most starts with 33 crowned by four victories. Former F1 drivers will take part in the event: René Arnoux (1965 Shelby Cobra 289 in Grid 4 and 1979 BMW M1 Procar in Grid 6), Jacques Laffite (1966 Lola T70 Mk III in Grid 5), and Paul Belmondo (1981 Porsche 935 in Grid 6). Several great names in motor sport will also compete: Jean Ragnotti, Emmanuel Collard (1999 Toyota GT-One in Global Endurance Legends), Alain Serpaggi (1978 Alpine A443 in Grid 6), Guy Fréquelin (1964 René Bonnet Djet in Grid 4) and Willi Kauhsen (Porsche 917 in Grid 5). The majority of these drivers will take part in a public conference on Friday at 14:00 in the village. It will also be attended by Pierre Fillon (President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest) and Patrick Peter (founder of Peter Auto). This will give fans the opportunity to put their questions to the drivers via the Le Mans Classic Facebook page: https://fr-fr.facebook.com/LeMansClassic/. The host of this conference broadcast live on the same page will ask the drivers the questions chosen. When it’s over an autograph session with the drivers present will be held in front of the E-Bay boutique.