Le Mans safety measures

The Circuit de la Sarthe at Le Mans will undergo a raft of safety improvements in time for next year’s 24 Hours race.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest, which runs the circuit and organises the 24 Hours, has revealed that it is undertaking a far-reaching safety study, which was only partially motivated by the death of Danish Aston Martin racer Allan Simonsen during this year’s race. But the organisation has stressed that the 8.47-mile circuit will not change.

The only improvements so far confirmed are an increase in the size of the gravel trap on the right-hand entry to the Porsche Curves and a new run-off area at the Chevrolet left-hander, towards the end of the circuit’s sweeping bends sequence in the final third of the lap.

Gary Watkins