LeMans announces 2015 schedule
The main talking point of the 2015 ACO calendar is the return of the 24 Heures Moto to its spring date as was the case up till 2010. The 38th event on 18-19 April will also be the first round of the 2015 FIM World Endurance Championship.
Another red letter event is the second Fete de l’ACO. In 2012 this fantastic meeting, which is a true Automobile Club de l’Ouest open-doors operation, welcomed 25 000 spectators: it will take place on 3-5 July. Over a 3-day period the ACO will present the full range of its activities and jobs while organizing a number of races (24 Hours Karts, LM Story, Inter Teams, etc) and other forms of on and off-track entertainment. Entry is free for the club members for whom this rendezvous was a great success three years ago, and the ticket prices will be very reasonable for other visitors.
2015 will also be marked by the return of the World Series by Renault (25 – 27 September) to Le Mans, five years after the last time the club hosted this popular motor sporting festival run by the French make with its blue riband series: Formula Renault 3.5 Series, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Renault Sport Trophy.
Among the other key events of the 2015 season: the organization of the KZ World Championship for Karts on the new international Le Mans circuit. The CZ category is the pinnacle of kart racing, and the confidence that the CIK-FIA has shown in the ASK-ACO has reinforced the ACO’s current investment in developing this very important branch of motor sport. Of course, other kart races will be held next year and their calendar will be announced later on.
As in previous years the Fun Cup (a private event) will kick off the season in mid-March which, in terms of motor sport, will end with the 24 Hours for Trucks. In between no fewer than 15 events for cars, bikes, trucks, rollers and pedestrians will take place within the Automobile Club de l’Ouest's walls.
Obviously the pinnacle of the year will be the Le Mans 24 Hours on 13-14 June. In 2015 the arrival of another major manufacturer, Nissan, will add to the intensity of the fight for outright victory as the Japanese firm will be up against Audi, Porsche and Toyota. The outcome of the battles in LM P2, LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am will be just as uncertain. As the 24 Hours is the pinnacle of the endurance pyramid and the third round of the FIA World Endurance Championship double points will be awarded. The test day will take place two weeks earlier on 31st May and scrutineering will kick of the big Le Mans week on 7-8 June in the centre of Le Mans.
In the area of bike racing the Le Mans track maintains its position as leader of motor bike events organized on circuits in France with the 24 Heures Moto (18-19 April), the French Grand Prix (15-17 May), the Promosport French Cups (18-19 July) and the national round of the Superbike Championship, which will open the season on 28-29 March. And the 24 Heures of Mopeds shouldn’t be forgotten either.
The Bugatti circuit will also host races not based on horsepower with the 24 Heures Rollers (27-28 June), Bicycles (22-23 August), the Foulees du Bugatti (foot races; 3-4 October).
The 2015 calendar
14 -15 March: Fun Cup *
28 – 29 March: French Superbike Championship
18 – 19 April: 24 Heures Moto
1 -3 May: GT Tour
15 -17 May: French Motorbike Grand Prix
31 May: Le Mans 24-Hours Test Day
13 – 14 June: 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours
27 – 28 June: 24 Heures Rollers
3 – 5 July: Fete de l’ACO and 24 Heures Karting
11 – 12 July: 24 Hours for Mopeds
18 – 19 July: Promosport French Cups
24 -26 : Super VW Festival
22 – 23 August: 24 Hours for Bicycles
10 – 13 September: KZ Kart World Championship
25 – 27 September: World Series by Renault
3 – 4 October: Foulees du Bugatti (Foot races)
10 – 11 October: 24 Hours for Trucks