The 6 Hours of Shanghai, the seventh round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, will take place on Saturday 9th November at the Shanghai International Circuit. The impressively large 5.45 kilometre track may well be the venue where more than one FIA World Endurance Championship title will be settled!
It is a two-day meeting as far as track activities are concerned, but it will be a full and busy week for the teams as the cars were shipped directly from Japan to Shanghai. With the shortened race in Fuji, it is hoped there won’t be too much work to be done.
Administrative checks for the teams began from 0800 hours on Thursday (all timings are local) and from 1000 hours for the drivers, whilst the cars started moving through Technical Scrutineering from 0830 hours. This is when the technical validity of the cars and drivers’ equipment is checked to make sure they conform to the stated regulations.
Later in the day there is an opportunity for drivers and their engineers to walk around the track. For newcomers to the 6 Hours of Shanghai, this could be the first chance they get to inspect areas such as the circuit’s track surface, kerbing and other idiosyncrasies. From 1915 hours the drivers’ and team managers’ briefings will take place at which time the Race Director will highlight any specific safety concerns.
Track action will start on Friday, 8th November at 0800 hours for the first of two 120-minute free practice sessions. Also taking place will be the 30-minute Boss GP practice and qualifying sessions, at 1015 and 1515 respectively. FIA WEC competitors will be back on track at 1200 hours for the second two-hour Free Practice session before qualifying at 1600 hours.
The LMGTE Pro and Am class cars will lead the way for the first 25-minute session at 1600 hours to determine the starting positions for Saturday’s race, followed by the LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes from 1635 - 1700 hours. Each of the two nominated drivers from each car must set at least two timed laps during qualifying. The average of the four best lap times (the best two of each driver) will serve as the reference time for establishing the grid.
Saturday, 9th November starts with the Boss GP race at 0845 hours, and the FIA WEC Autograph session for all drivers which this weekend will take place in the Fan Zone between 0900 and 0930 hours. From 0920 there is a 30 minute Pit Walk during which time spectators can get a closer look at the cars up and down the pit lane.
Preparation time for the race follows, and the drivers will be on the grid for the 6 Hours of Shanghai which begins at 1100 hours. Everyone is looking forward to an exciting race and praying for dry weather!
Fiona Miller
Photo: SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT (SHANGHAI, CHINA), 6 HOURS OF SHANGHAI, SUNDAY 28TH OCTOBER 2012, RACE START.
