LMEM CEO Frédéric Lequien: On The ELMS & WEC Calendars, GT3 Premium & Silverstone!

The man in charge of LMEM, the body responsible for the running of the FIA World Endurance Championship, European and Asian Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup, Frédéric Lequien took time to talk to the media at Spa Francorchamps on the morning of the 4 Hours of Spa Francorchamps, Round 5 of the 2022 European Le Mans Series.

The discussion was almost entirely on the record and wide-ranging and with an awful lot on Frédéric’s desk, there was no shortage of ground to cover, and no reluctance to give some clear answers.

The ELMS calendar has been pretty positively received with perhaps one exception, the clash for the final round at Portimao with Petit Le Mans. Is that something that you are still talking about or is that fixed?

“It’s a fixed date. At the moment we are suffering a very strange situation with the expansion of the Formula One calendar. Many tracks we like to go or we use have to modify their timetable because of this and then we need to adapt too. Then we have to try to avoid clashes with our friends at IMSA, but also with others such as Formula E and SRO.

“Please don’t believe that we did not make efforts not to clash, we did. We talk together but in the end, we’re in a situation that everybody has to make
sacrifices and we have to manage that. We build the calendar not over one week or two weeks. It’s a long walk. And then when you think that everything is ready, you have to restart from zero.

“You do it a second time, and then again for another reason, you have to restart from zero. And this is what happened this season. In the end, it’s not so bad. It’s not perfect. I totally agree. But once again, we did our best effort.”

What about Formula One, with 24 races, there’s not a lot you can do. There are going to be issues. What has the relationship been like with your calendars coming together, because that’s a major issue for everybody.

“We must be realistic. Formula One is Formula One. And of course, we want to continue the discussion with them. This is what we have done, and I want to thank them for avoiding the big clash with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“But for the rest of the season, it’s almost impossible to avoid clashes.

“But the relationships are very good.

“I want to mention too that we have had some discussion meetings with Formula E too. And they really appreciated that.

“Let’s say that this year, we made the effort to try to accommodate everyone as best we could and it would be nice if we saw next year that everyone did the same in return.”

As things stand at the moment we will have three different championships in the ladder with GT3 cars. Is that the current vision with Michelin Le Mans Cup, ELMS (and Asian LMS) and the FIA WEC?

“I do not see any reasons why we should change that.”

And GT3 Premium will be WEC only?

“No, it will be in WEC and ELMS.”

When do you think we may hear more about what GT3 Premium is in reality?

“Before the end of the WEC season.”

When do we think we will see the 2023 WEC calendar?

“At the end of next week, on Thursday. It will be seven races in 2023 and the plan is to go to eight in 2024.”

Could it go to nine?

“We need to be sensitive to cost, at the moment seven or eight is a sensible level.”

The Road to Le Mans races have been pushed back from race morning at Le Mans to now race on Thursday and Friday?

“It’s because of all the activities which are linked to the centenary. Just a question of timetable.”

About next year’s (ELMS) night race, Why Motorland?

“Why not? We only have six races, it would be nice to go to six different countries was there discussion with, for example, Red Bull Ring, or opthers before you settled on Motorland?

“It’s a fragile balance. When you build a calendar, you have to pay attention that first we do it for the teams and drivers to be sure that they will enjoy it, then, of course, I would be a liar. If I do not tell you that we have to pay attention to the budget.

“A track like Red Bull Ring is far away, it’s not easy to join. and it’s very, very expensive.

“When we are here (at Spa), everybody’s happy. But believe me, sometimes you have to take some decisions that make everybody a little bit more relaxed.

“I want to come back on Motorland. We strongly believe that the track is a high-profile circuit. It’s nice. Okay, maybe it’s a bit in the middle of nowhere, but we can manage that.

“It was also an opportunity to try to do something a little bit different. Okay, it will be the second time in Spain so let’s do something different. Let’s be a little bit creative. And let’s race at night. The daytime temperature will be very high so it makes sense too!

“As for other options, we had some discussions with many, many tracks in Europe and it doesn’t mean that will not go in the future.

“We are still in discussion with some tracks in Great Britain and in Germany but for 2023 it was, from my point of view, the best format

“Just to give an example of the difficulties we face, we planned initially to do the ELMS race at Imola on the 15th of May but changed it to the 7th of May why?

“Because Formula One, the San Marino Grand Prix was decided to be on a date which gave the circuit a problem with our date and they said you have to change the date.”

So let’s talk about Britain, because I know my readers would like me to ask where do things currently stand with the ELMS and with WEC?

“We are discussing with Silverstone.”

At the moment would the priority be ELMS or WEC?

“At the moment it is very difficult to answer because, you know, FIA WEC will have eight races in 2024 and I’m not sure that nine is a good idea.

“So it means that maybe in the future, we need to imagine something a little bit different, like one season we go to this track and the next somewhere else
But once again, we have no troubles with them. And we had discussions with them in July and planned to visit the track very early. And we’ll see. We have some we have some really good contact with them.”

I think Silverstone would have liked the championship back as well. There are so many British fans that can’t travel to Le Mans that have missed seeing the cars, especially the hypercars.

“I totally agree with you. But also we have to take into consideration that we some tracks where we have some long term agreements. So it’s not so easy. Especially because we have had the COVID situation, the Brexit issues, but now it’s time to discuss, to think about how and when to return.”

Other than the availability on the calendar, which is the principal reason, are there barriers to it coming back? I think the answer you’re giving us is no. There is a good relationship with Silverstone, there is no hangover from discussions that may have taken place three or four years ago. Brexit is now a known known.

There’s now no reason why it shouldn’t be considered in the discussion with other circuits?

“Completely correct.”

The post LMEM CEO Frédéric Lequien: On The ELMS & WEC Calendars, GT3 Premium & Silverstone! first appeared on dailysportscar.com.