“24 HEURES DU MANS” 2006
Exceptionally, the start will be given at 17h00 !
Monday 9 january 2006
2006 : for a year of exceptional celebrations, an exceptional starting time!
On Saturday 17th June the start of the 74th �24 Heures du Mans� will be given at 17h00 instead of 16h00.
The Automobile Club de l�Ouest has decided on this modification taking into account the major sporting event that is the Football World Cup and the enormous amount of TV coverage it receives. Bearing in mind the matches scheduled at 15h00 and 18h00 (French time) and the agreements concluded with the international channels wanting to show these two events of planetary importance, a study of the programme schedules shows that putting back the start of the �24 Heures du Mans� is the best solution.
Postponing the start by one hour means that it will go out live on channels throughout the world so its impact will be preserved and the race�s supporters whether present on the circuit or watching it live on TV world wide will not suffer any frustration as would have been the case with a recorded broadcast. The same thing applies to the finish on Sunday and the rostrum ceremonies slotted in between two football matches (Japan - Croatia at 15h00 which will be massively watched by the Japanese who are football � and �24 Heures du Mans� fans, and Brazil � Australia at 18h00).
While changing from the traditional starting time of 16h00 is not a first in the long history of the �24 Heures du Mans�, starting the race at 17h00 is!
In the past the changes always concerned bringing forward the start time on an exceptional basis:
14h00
- in 1969 due to the presidential elections,
- in 1998 as TV coverage had to be shared not only with the Football World Cup but also with the Roland Garros tennis tournament,
15h00
- in 1968, as a result of the May �68 problems which led to the race being put back until September when the days are shorter
- in 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1996 because of elections with the exception of 1985, and the European Football Cup in 1996.
To add to the pleasure of the spectators present at the circuit the number of Saturday supporting races will be increased. There will be two �Le Mans Legends� fields for two retrospective events under the banner �A.C.O Centenary Races.� In this the A.C.O�s centenary year 100 fabulous vehicles will be brought together split 50/50 between the first race open to cars built before 1939 and the second for cars built between 1945 and 1955.
In addition to the festivities and the race the giant TV screens on the
�24 Heures du Mans� circuit will keep the spectators regularly updated on the results of this action-packed sporting weekend.