Last year, the order of competitors on the starting grid at six-hour races was determined according to an average over four laps, the best two times clocked by two drivers in the course of the two 25-minute qualifying sessions: one for the LM P1 and LM P2 classes, the other for the cars in LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am.

The system was revised for 2015 and though there will still be two sessions, one for GTs and the other for prototypes, the length of each was reduced to 20 minutes. Also, the starting grid will be defined from the average of two laps: one for each of the drivers qualifying the car.

Though there is no restriction concerning the classification of the drivers for the "professional" classes LM P1 and LM GTE Pro, the same cannot be said for the "amateurs." Therefore, in LM P2, one of the two laps must be completed by "Silver" or a "Bronze" driver. The same for LM GTE Am, but by only one "Bronze" driver.

Additionally, in these last two classes, the driver who takes the start of the race must mandatorily be the driver who clocked the best time of the driver line-up, all sessions considered. So it is not until after qualifying that the identity of the driver who will take the start will be known in the LM P2 and LM GTE Am classes.

On the other hand, in LM P1 and LM GTE Pro, the name of the driver who will take the start must mandatorily be announced as of the adminstrative verifications. The name can be changed at the latest within half an hour following the end of the qualifying sessions, but a penalty, at the discretion of the marshals, may be imposed on the competitor making the request.

If for any reason there is not a lap time recorded for each driver, the grid will be comprised first of competitors who completed two laps, then those who did one lap and lastly competitors who have no time recorded.

Qualifying will take place Saturday, April 11th at noon for LM GTE Pro and Am competitors and start at 12:30 p.m. for LM P1 and LM P2, local times.

Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo credit: VSA

PHOTO: TOWCESTER (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, U.K.), SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, FIA WEC, 6 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE, FRIDAY APRIL 10 2015, OFFICIAL PHOTO. Two drivers per car will be expected to qualify for the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).