Several of the ELMS and Michelin Le Mans Cup teams will be having a busy week at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans because not only are they running cars in the 100th Anniversary event on June 10/11, but they also have entries for the 8th edition of the Road To Le Mans.
There are ten teams who race in the MLMC, who also have entries in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with three leading teams, United Autosports, Inter Europol Competition and COOL Racing, running a total of 15 cars between them during the event.
United Autosports will have six cars, four in RTLM and two in the 24 Hours, Inter Europol Competition with also have two cars in the main race, with three competing in the Road to Le Mans, while COOL Racing will have two cars in each.
Unlike a usual ELMS weekend, where the teams running in both series are in close proximity in the same paddock, which makes sharing of resources a lot easier. However, at Le Mans the Road to Le Mans Paddock is at the kart circuit, nearly 1km away from the garages on the main pitlane, which presents a few extra challenges.
So, we asked the Team Managers some questions to get an insight into the logistic challenges the three teams will face at the world’s greatest motorsport event. The Team Managers are Anthony Megevand (LMP2) and Tom Olmos (LMP3) for COOL Racing, Sascha Fassbender for Inter Europol Competition and Charlie Kemp, MLMC Team Manager for United Autosports.
Q: How many trucks do you use to transport your cars to Le Mans?
COOL RACING: “We are coming to Le Mans with 3 trucks and additional van. One of these trucks is dedicated to the Michelin Le Mans Cup, the other ones are for the 24 Hours. For this year, we have also a dedicated hospitality in the support paddock.”
INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION: “Six trucks travel from our Warsaw base to Circuit de la Sarthe.”
UNITED AUTOSPORTS: “We have four trucks for the cars and kit in the 24 hour race – and for Road to Le Mans, which will follow on a week later, we will be taking three trucks for the four cars.”
Q: How many personnel do you take to Le Mans for the cars competing in the 24 Hours and the Road to Le Mans?
COOL RACING: “We will be 44, without drivers and partners. We are a little bit more than 10 for Road to Le Mans.”
INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION: “It's a big programme and we will have 57 personnel on the ground this year at Le Mans.”
UNITED AUTOSPORTS: “We’ll have a team of 60 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a crew of 27 for the Road to Le Mans, with some staff playing roles in both paddocks. That encompasses everyone from engineers to mechanics, physios to media.”
Q: Is there any crossover between the two sets of personnel (ie – do some move between the 24HLM and RTLM teams)? If yes, what roles are they performing for the team?
COOL RACING: “Yes, several members of the crew are involved in both races. Tom Olmos, LMP3 team manager, is also on the 24 Hours Le Mans. As well as some mechanics. Obviously, our physio is the same for both races.”
INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION: “Yes, there is crossover and for us, it’s the mechanics. Some of those on the Road to Le Mans programme will switch to the 24 Hours of Le Mans pit stop crew.”
UNITED AUTOSPORTS: “Yes – not only mechanical staff, but also management and logistical team members who bolster the whole effort once the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicks off. While the garage crew are making sure everything goes to plan on track, we also want to make sure our sponsors and guests have the very best experience – so we have team members on hand to help with that, whether that’s giving garage tours or showing them the best places to watch the race at midnight.”
Q: What’s the biggest difference between the logistics for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a normal ELMS / MLMC weekend?
COOL RACING: “It starts earlier. For ELMS, we are coming on Tuesday before the race. At Le Mans, one truck in coming 10 days before the Test Day, the two other five days before. The number of people is different; the crew is bigger. It’s because of the rules, that are a little bit different between ELMS and WEC.
“At Le Mans, there is also more extra request from communication, marketing etc. It means a different organisation is needed. We have more partners coming too, and it’s good to have their support. More guest for our drivers also.
“The race preparation is longer (with the Test Day prior to the event), the race itself of course. It means we need to anticipate more and to have more spare parts to prepare, specific tools or installation, behind the garage for example. There is also the logistic to bring the cars in city downtown etc. A lot to do!”
INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION: “It's very similar really, we have additional guests this year at Le Mans which requires additional planning, but overall, it is pretty similar.”
UNITED AUTOSPORTS: “The sheer length of the event – a normal ELMS race is a week, whereas this is two. As well as the extra hospitality, we have more set-up to do in the garages as we’re in the first two spots which aren’t there permanently. And, of course, looking after the team during such an extended period of intense work. Le Mans is a huge physical and mental challenge for everyone involved, so we do everything we can to support the United Autosports crew throughout.”
Q: How far in advance do you start planning for Le Mans? Is this very different from a usual ELMS weekend?
COOL RACING: Yes, it’s different. We often hear that you prepare the next Le Mans the day after the race. It’s almost this. You try to start thinking of next year right after the chequered flag.
“First with debriefing (technical or organization), then in terms of booking some stuff. ELMS, you go from a race to another, even if, for example, we have to prepare Le Castellet almost during Le Mans! For the 24 Hours, let’s say it’s longer and during all the year long. It’s a topic you always have somewhere in mind, a kind of “work in progress” that never stop.”
INTER EUROPOL COMPETITION: “It's essentially the same. Le Mans is obviously different in that we have to wait to see what our number of entries are, but once key decisions have been reached, it's similar.”
UNITED AUTOSPORTS: “You really do start thinking about it as soon as the 24 hours is up. You come back to base, debrief and outline plans for how you’re going to be even bigger and better the next year. But planning starts in earnest when entries are confirmed.”
The 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans will begin with Le Pesage on Friday 2 June and conclude on Sunday 11 June.
