A new exciting event at LeMans – The ACO Festival
Once again the motorbike riders will kick off the season in 2012 on the Le Mans circuits with the French Superbike Championship, and the kart drivers will have the honor of bringing down the curtain in the home of French motor sport with a round of the French 125 Kart Championship for Karts with Gearboxes.
The high point of the year will obviously be the 80th Le Mans 24 Hours (16th – 17th June), the blue riband event of the new FIA World Endurance Championship, two weeks after the test day (3rd June).
As 2012 is an even-numbered year Le Mans Classic is back on the calendar and will celebrate its tenth anniversary at the beginning of July (6th – 8th July).
The Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorbikes counting towards the FIM World Endurance Championship retains its September date, and will take place at the beginning of the month (7th – 8th September). It will be the first event after the summer break. Thus, with this event and the French Motorbike Grand Prix, the Le Mans circuit consolidates its place as leader of motorbike racing in the country.
Finally, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest is launching a new festive attractive event, the ACO Festival (see below), into which the 24-Hours race for Karts has been integrated. It will be a major celebration dedicated to motor sport and all the activities in the club.
The 2012 calendar
31st March-1st April: French Superbike Championship
27th – 29th April: FFSA V de V Series
18th – 20th May: French Motorbike Grand Prix
3rd June: Le Mans 24-Hours test day
16th – 17th June: Le Mans 24 Hours
30th June – 1st July: 24 Hours for Rollers
6th – 8th July: Le Mans Classic
21st – 22nd July: Promosport French Cups
25th – 26th August: Le Mans 24 Hours for Bicycles
7th – 8th September: 35th Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorbikes
28th – 30th September: ACO Festival and 26th 24 Hours for Karts
13th – 14th October: 28th Le Mans 24 Hours for Trucks
20th – 21st October: Marathon
3rd – 4th November: French 125 Kart Championship (KZ)
The ACO Festival
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest has decided to hold a new event for its members and all lovers of motor sport. All the ACO’s activities will be highlighted over a 3-day period at the Le Mans circuits. The program will be a very varied one consisting of races with mouthwatering fields (French GT Championship, European Superkart Championship, Historic Grand Prix Motorbikes, Motorbikes races, etc) shows, conferences, track sessions for private individuals and clubs, ACO members, collectors’ clubs, track baptisms in the Pescarolo school prototype, on 2-seater motorbikes, in Porsches, plus sessions of all the training courses organized by the ACO. Demonstrations by the quickest and most spectacular machines (LM P1, WRC…) as well as entertainment for all ages and tastes will be on the program. To sum up, a great 3-day family outing around and on the three permanent circuits – Bugatti, Maison Blanche and Alain Prost. On the latter the tempo of the festival will be set by the participants in the 26th Le Mans 24 Hours for Karts ! Free admission for ACO members.
More details of this new rendezvous will be given at the start of 2012.