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In a press confrence held today at the Musee automobile de la Sarthe, Mr. Jean-Cleade Plassart President of the Automobile club de l’Ouest (A.C.O) announced some of the changes we will see in the future of the 24 heures du mans.

Safety at the track for the drivers, continued addition of sand traps, and revamping of corners.

Further work on fuel consumption Diesel vs. petrol vs. hybrid technology. In 2008 Bio-fuels will be used for the first time. Further research into Hybrid and regenerative technology is also an ongoing plan.

Continuing of The Michelin Energy Challenge which rewards reward those teams that make the best use of the fuel they consume, expressed as an Energy Performance Index (EPI) calculated after each event.

Prizes will be awarded to the best-performing teams in all four categories (LM P1, LMP2, GT1, GT2).

The Energy Performance Index is based on the following parameters:
– The vehicle’s average speed over the total distance covered,
– The vehicles weight,
– The actual fuel consumption of each vehicle (litres/100km)

Reduction of costs in the sport for the GT2 and LM2 Categories, along with more manufactures, like Porsche offering turn key race cars.

Current cars are eligible only up to 2011

Closed roof LM1 and LM2 cars.

Things that Mr. Plassart would like to see, are more diversity in car designs, He stated that historically manufactures have used colors (Ferrari Red). As I see it he would like to see more “production looking” cars, so that someone car easily tell that was a Audi, Porsche, Panoz, Etc..

Continuation of an International strategy with more races all over the world.

Since 2001 the Automobile club de l’Ouest has been giving this award yearly to individuals who’s work has made a significant contribution to the 24 hours of Le Mans. This year two presentations were made, the first being to Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich Manager of Audisport Competition. Dr Ullrich was chosen this year for his success at Le Mans over the past 8 years, creating one of the most winning est teams in the history of the sport. A second an almost more important Spirit of Le Mans award was given to French journalist Jacques Issautier who is reporting on Le Mans this year for the 58th time, the first being in 1948, only taking a year off due to health conditions. Mr Issautier has spent more then a year, in weeks at his home away from home here at the Circuit De La Sarthe. Each Spirit of Le Mans award winner was presented with a Rolex watch.

Well I made it to Caen, unfortunately Caen does not equal Normandy Beaches, which were another 45 minutes by car. Since I was lacking a car, and renting a car or motorcycle would probably break the bank I decided to go to the Memorial de Caen, which is a WWII memorial plus a memorial to peace. It was a very interesting experience, but it was lacking on D-Day information, which was a bummer. Finding a taxi to the memorial was easy as most of the taxis tend to hover around the train stations. Getting a taxi from the memorial was another question all together… So what did I do, I began walking…. well due to boy scouts I am pretty good at land navigation, even in a foriegn country, because I didn’t see a taxi until I had walked nearly back to the Gare de Caen…. a mere 4.6km. From there a beer at a small pub outside the station, a cafe and sandwich in the station, and I was off to Le Mans, where I checked into out Bed and Breakfast, and then took a taxi to the track, where after a bit of wandering around, and some help from a very nice lady I was pointed in the correct direction of the Media tent.

Public transportation in France is second to none, however public transportation at a racetrack is usually hectic at best. I called a taxi, and after 20 minutes I never say it, though I suspect it was hijacked by another group. So I took the bus
spécial 24 du mans, back to the Gare Le Mans, to grab a taxi, about 45 minutes in total.