LM24: Record entry accelerated pit plan

The completion of the extension to the Le Mans pits is being rushed through because of the quantity and quality of the entries for this year's 24 Hours.

Race organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest had planned to extend the pitlane by four garages to bring the capacity of the circuit up to 60 cars in two stages. This would have involved adding two garages in advance of each of the 2016 and '17 seasons. But ACO president Pierre Fillon explained that the organisation was persuaded to speed up its plans by the entry for this year's prestige round of the World Endurance Championship.

"When we saw the size and quality of the entry, we knew we had to find a solution," he said.

He revealed that 73 entries were received for this year's race on June 18-19. A total of 60 cars have been given firm entries in line with the new number of pits, while 10 more are on the reserve list.

All four pit boxes were due to be built ahead of this year's 24 Hours, but two were scheduled to be used for scrutineering purposes. The ACO has come up with a temporary solution prior to changes that will involve shifting the scrutineering bays and parc ferme to the beginning of pitlane once the existing medical center is moved for 2017.

The grid for the Le Mans 24 Hours has never exceeded 60 cars. This figure was achieved four times in the early 1950s before the pits were rebuilt in the wake of the 1955 Le Mans disaster.

Originally on Autosport.com