This weekend (1-3 June), in preparation for the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 60 entries take to the 13.62 km track for the one and only official test day.

On Saturday 16th June the French tricolour flag will be waved for the start of the world’s biggest sports car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This Sunday, 3rd June, in preparation for the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season, the 60 entries take to the 13.62 km track for the one and only official test day.

But what happens during the test weekend, and who can take part?

As a large part of the Circuit de la Sarthe is made up of public roads, this is a rare opportunity for everyone to test cars, drivers and systems ahead of the main event in two weeks. All 60 entries will be on track, together with majority of the 180 drivers who will compete on 16/17th June.

Fernando Alonso completing his official 'rookie' test on the simulator

Newcomers to Le Mans in 2018

The test day is obligatory for all entrants, and most particularly for drivers who have never raced before in the 24 Hours of Le Mans or who are not on the official List of Exempted Drivers – including Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button!

These drivers must complete at least 10 laps minimum during Sunday's track sessions. This is in addition to the simulator training they have had to do prior to the test day.

Jenson Button and the SMP Racing LMP1 car which he shares with Vitaly Petrov and Mikhail Aleshin

What happens and when?

The public roads are closed to traffic very early on Sunday morning 3rd June and will re-open around 19h30.

Scrutineering checks for the cars will take place on Thursday 31st May and Friday 1st June and for drivers on Saturday 2nd June (08h30-16h00) inside the circuit. There will also be pit walks for fans on both Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday at 16h00 the official group photo of all cars in the race will take place on the front straight.

Two Free Practice sessions will take place on Sunday 3rd June between 09h00-13h00 and 14h00-18h00.

List of entrants for the official Test Day HERE

