Pesage Monday

The second day of scrutineering and driver sign-on began at 10:00 with the two Team AAI Porsches who are here with invitations due to their success in the GTC class of the Asian Le Mans series. There is no GTC category at the 24 hours, so they are here with LMGTE Am Porsches.  Following them through pesage were the two Oak Racing Ligier JSP2, the #34 powered by HPD and #35 by Nissan. 

The carnival atmosphere in the Place de la Republique continued, although perhaps slightly fewer spectators (this being a weekday) and the main contingent of race fans not yet here. The sun continued to shine as the drivers of SMP racing mingled with autograph hunting spectators. I do wish the Ladygin brothers would get different haircuts or something, I find them quite hard to tell apart!

The cloudless blue sky continued over the one hour lunch break after which the Porsche 919 hybrids turned up, followed by the Signatech Alpine and the Aston Martins including the #97 Art Car which puts us slightly in mind of a BBC test card from about 1975, seen on a poorly maintained television. One thing is certain, you'll not mistake it for anything other car on the track!

Art Car - Aston Martin Vantage V8 #97

The armada of AF Corse Ferraris followed the pair of works Corvettes and last of all the Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2 that was wheeled under the scrutinous gaze of the ACO officials. All 56 cars were finally passed as fit to race, as well as the 168 drivers.

That is it then from scrut' or pesage or tech inspection whatever you are accustomed to calling the process. The week starts properly on Wednesday afternoon with first free practice session from 16:00 to 20:00 when the talk stops and the racing begins!

Porsche 919 hybrid

Krohn Racing Ligier JS P2

In the meantime, tomorrow there is the official group photo of the 168 drivers at 11.30 and then at 17:00 the drivers will be signing autographs in front of the pit garage in the pit lane which will be open to anyone with an Enceinte Générale (general admission) ticket.

The Club Arnage team will be 'enlarged' tomorrow with the arrival of messrs Simpson and Sorth, and Jock will (with the incentive of beer and merguez) be blogging the rest of the week.

Don't forget to download your spotters guide to Le Mans 2015 and also the Club Arnage guide and cheat sheet.

Tonight we are raising a glass to our fallen comrade David Stephens tonight; a well known and much loved photographer who signed off suddenly yesterday at a relatively tender age. Daily Sportscar have a touching tribute to him on this link.

See you on Wednesday!