Pierre Fillon On 2022 Calendar Clashes – And A Successful 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours

ACO President Pierre Fillon and LMEM CEO Frédéric Lequien met with media at Spa Francorchamps to chat about the 2021 season so far and the 2022 season to come.



After a meeting of minds on the subject of the importance of the current COVID controls, the stresses and strains that those put on all involved, and a hope that a gradual relaxation can begin in due course, there was plenty of opportunity to drill into the known plans for 2022.



Notably though Pierre Fillon reported to the DSC Editor that the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours, with limited fans allowed to attend, had broken even despite the need for significant efforts to reduce the risk of infection spread, an important milestone after the huge economic burden of holding the 2020 event behind closed doors.



“It was very important for so many reasons to welcome fans back this year. It lifted all of our spirits I know, and it was important too that we could show to them and to others that we had a plan that kept everybody as safe as possible.”



On the changes to the ELMS calendar, with Monza and Red Bull Ring replaced in 2022 by Imola and Hungaroring, the drivers were multiple factors: “It is good to have change I think, said Pierre Fillon, “and I think it is a welcome change for the teams and the drivers.”

The over-arching reasoning is likely though to have been a more favourable commercial offer from the returning circuits, Hungaroring back on the calendar for the first time since 2013, Imola returning for the first time since 2016.

Fillon confirmed too that a presumed clash between either the ELMS in Hungary or the FIA WEC at Monza the following weekend will clash with the 2022 Le Mans Classic.

he explained that the date for the Peter Auto-organised event is defined by a complex combination of inter-dependent dates involving the British and Hungarian Grand Prix meetings and the Goodwood Festival of Speed.


“There definitely will be a clash but, for now, we don’t know if it will be the ELMS weekend or the WEC race at Monza.”



Either way Pierre Fillon is set to compete at his home circuit, confirming to DSC that he’ll race at the classic alongside JOTA co-owner David Clark in a 1965 Porsche 904.

There is no immediate prospect of a return to the UK for either the ELMS and/ or FIA WEC but the preferred option should it make its way back to a further expanded calendar is a re-introduction of the popular double-header weekend.

For now though the issues caused by a combination of Brexit, COVID protocols,and some ongoing commercial disagreements between all parties have paused the appearance of UK circuits in general, and Silverstone specifically, on the ACO calendar.

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