ACO Take On Full Ownership of Main Pit Building

Le Maine Libre have confirmed that the ownership of the main pits and grandstand building complex at Le Mans have transferred in its entirety to the ACO from the ‘Syndicate Mixte’ grouping of local and regional government interests.

The change comes as the ACO develop plans to replace the building, completed in time for the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours, with a new and larger complex, likely now to incorporate more garages than the current 60 stalls.

The plans are also likely to accommodate infrastructure for alternative fuels, in particular hydrogen.

The current plan is for the new complex to be completed in time for the centenary of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2023.

The existing building’s development saw the ACO get into financial difficulties, requiring assistance from the local/ regional government to complete the scheme, with a subsequent interest held in the finished building by the government bodies.

The transfer follows the recent acquisition by the ACO of the Museum from local government.

New pit buildings for ‘Circuit Maison Blanche’

The ACO has also revealed plans for the development of the infrastructure at the ‘Maison Blanche’ circuit, the training circuit established on the outside of the exit of the Porsche Curves along to the Ford Chicane and now including the Porsche Driving Centre.

The new pits complex is now complete and was officially opened yesterday, to a modular design which would be easy to extend, and there are plans too for temporary buildings adjacent to the site for viewing of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Toyota Test With Low Downforce Kit and Revised Livery

Toyota has been out testing at Paul Ricard, blowing the cobwebs off its low-downforce aero kit.

The TS050 is again set to race both at Spa and Le Mans, top and tailing the ‘Super Season with the less draggy version of their aero kit.

There is though a subtle change in livery between the two years as shown in the shots released to Twitter by the team.

2019 Japanese manufacturer released images of the Toyota TS050 Hybrid’s Le Mans-style package, which is the same as what it ran in the first two rounds of the 2018-19 ‘Super Season, according to a Toyota spokesperson.

It also displayed a new livery with black strips now intersecting the white nose from the red base section.