Nine drivers will not take part in the Le Mans Test Day due to clashing commitments with the final round of the Formula E season in Berlin.
The traditional test weekend ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is usually mandatory for all drivers, but The Race reports that several top drivers will not be attending due to the calendar clash.
This includes JOTA drivers Tom Blomqvist, Stoffel Vandoorne and Antonio Felix da Costa, Sebastien Buemi (Toyota), Alexander Sims (Corvette), Norman Nato (Realteam Racing), Nyck de Vries (G-Drive Racing), Alex Lynn (United Autosports) and Robin Frijns (Team WRT).
Normally, all drivers are required to complete running in order to be allowed to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but an exception has been made for the drivers racing in Berlin.
An added article into the 24 Hours of Le Mans supplementary regulations has specifically been made up for “drivers unable to take part in the test due to an automobile competition – the timing of this competition must prevent the driver from complying with the obligations of the test day”.
Drivers affected were required to “send a written request, duly motivated, to a supplied email address at least seven days before the administrative checks of the test day”. Additionally, a contribution of expenses of 3000 euros will be “levied by the ACO, to be paid within 24 hours of the request”.
For Robin Frijns in particular, the situation is even more complicated as the Dutchman has not previously competed at Le Mans before.
Therefore, he is the only one out of the nine drivers to not be featured on the so-called appendix 10 list of the drivers that have raced at Le Mans since 2016.
Due to his platinum-rated status, however, he is exempt from participation in the Test Day due to a different clause in the supplementary regulations.
Article 13.1.3 states that “platinum categorised drivers who do not appear on appendix 10 can, upon written request to the sport committee, be exempted from the obligation to drive 10 laps during the test day”, but only “if they prove their requirement to participate in another major competition (being subject to the assessment of the sport committee)”.
While exempt from participation during the Test Day, Frijns will still be required to drive a minimum of five full laps during practice for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Wednesday to be allowed to compete in the 89th running of the French endurance classic.
