Le Mans Classic is postponed until 2021

Historic Racing News

Coronavirus uncertainty means that the Le Mans Classic will now take place in 2021 - and on odd-numbered years from then on.

Le Mans Classic Jaguar Dunlop Bridge

Mathieu Bonnevie / Le Mans Classic

This year’s Le Mans Classic race has been postponed by a year, as uncertainty over the coronavirus situation continues.

Organisers of the biennial event, originally set for 2-5 July, said that they could not be sure that any rescheduled 2020 date could go ahead.

It will now take place on 1-4 July next year, and will reset the calendar, so the following Le Mans Classic will be held in 2023.

“Le Mans Classic is an international showcase that attracts almost 200,000 fans to a single venue,” said Patrick Peter, President of Peter Auto, which organises the event with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO).

“As you can imagine, maintaining the original dates for the event in the current context was out of the question. We have therefore decided, together with our partners and the ACO, to postpone Le Mans Classic until 2021 when everyone will be able to fully enjoy this marvellous retrospective of the finest hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

This year’s Le Mans 24 Hours has already been moved from June to September, but the challenge of assembling the Classic grid, combined with the unpredictable progress of the coronavirus pandemic meant that a similar delay was not possible.

“Le Mans Classic is a monument in the vintage auto world,” Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO said. “Safety and quality are therefore key to the organisation of such a prominent event. We are momentarily unable to guarantee these essential requirements and postponement is our only option. We can now focus on 2021 and look forward to welcoming you all then.”

Tickets for this year’s event will remain valid for 2021. Refunds are also available.