2024-04-16 17:59:56
The World Endurance Championship will start its 2024 season this weekend with the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first event of a calendar made up of four races that will then continue with the 8 Hours of Spa (June 8), the 8 Hours of Suzuka (July 21) and the Bol d’Or (September 14) as the grand final party .
This edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the 47th since its creation in 1978 – will have a large presence of Spanish pilots. In total, six of our people will be part of one of the 48 teams that will be on the grid this year, some with experience in this race such as David Sanchísand others who will debut at Le Mans, such as Mika Perezenrolled in the ranks of Team Players.
These are the six Spanish riders who will compete this year in the most legendary endurance test in motorcycling:
Alex Toledo (TEAM BOLLIGER SWITZERLAND)
Roman Ramos (KAWASAKI WEBIKE TRICKSTAR)
David Sanchís (TEAM 33 LOUIT APRIL MOTO)
Marc Miralles (MANA-AU COMPETITION)
Christian Palomares (MANA-AU COMPETITION)
Mika Perez (TEAM PLAYERS)
Among those registered there is a significant name that stands out by its absenceand it is none other than David Checa. The Spanish driver with the best record in the history of the World Endurance Championship – he has four titles in his cabinet – will not be able to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans after the brand change that his team has made this year, the ERC Endurance, which later After competing with Ducati for the last four seasons, he has decided to bet on BMW.
Unfortunately, the German structure has not had time to prepare the M 1000 RR for this inaugural round of Le Mans which will take place this coming weekend (April 20-21), bad news that leaves both David Checa and his teammate in 2023 on the ground, a Xavi Forés who will also not be able to compete in France starting Friday.
“It is the first time since 2004 without the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” Checa announced on her social networks. “I’m very sad”, reveals the 43-year-old pilot. “The team has changed manufacturers for this year and there is no time to adjust everything for this race. I don’t know when we’ll be ready to run. I hope soon! Good luck to everyone and see you next year,” David concludes in his brief statement.
In that same message, Forés encouraged his partner and he also regretted not being able to participate in this inaugural event of the World Endurance Championship: “Courage up brother, we are in the same situation. We have no choice but to keep rowing,” wrote the Valencian, who in the middle of April still cannot find a sports project according to his talent and experience.
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Below we leave you with the Schedules planned for this 47th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mansan event that can be followed live through Eurosport, a channel available on DAZN, Movistar and other television platforms in Spain.
Thursday April 18
10h00-12h00: Free training
16h00-16h20: First classification (blue drivers)
4:30 p.m.-4:50 p.m.: First classification (yellow drivers)
5:00 p.m.-5:20 p.m.: First classification (red drivers)
5:30 p.m.-5:50 p.m.: First classification (green drivers)
8:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.: Night training
Friday April 19
10h20-10h40: Second classification (blue drivers)
10h50-11h10: Second classification (yellow drivers)
11h20-11h40: Second classification (red drivers)
11h50-12h10: Second classification (green drivers)
Saturday April 20
10h30-11h15: Warm Up
3:00 p.m.: Start of the 47th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Sunday April 21
3:00 p.m.: End of the 47th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
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