The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has confirmed that the Le Mans start line will be moved 145 metres along the front straight, ahead of this year's 24 Hours.
The change is intended to bring all 60 cars onto the straight at the waving of the French tricolore, preventing congestion in the Ford Chicane section when the field is released.
Previously, the race started as the GTE field negotiated the final set of corners.
All events held at the Circuit de la Sarthe and Bugatti Circuit, including the MotoGP round in May, will adhere to the new start configuration.
"For events with standing starts like the French Motorbike Grand Prix, this modification means that all the bikes will be displayed on the straight to the delight of the spectators in the grandstands opposite the pits," an ACO statement read.
However, the finish line will remain in the same place as the old start-finish, meaning race distances for all categories will be reduced by 145 metres.
Other changes to the Le Mans circuit have been effectuated over the winter, including an extension of the run-off at the Porsche Curves.
The inside of the final right-hander (before Karting) has been modified to replace an old embankment with an abrasive run-off area that will reduce the likelihood of major accidents in that section of track.
Two major LMP1 crashes – involving Marc Gene's Peugeot in 2008 and Loic Duval's Audi in 2014 – led to extensive re-adjustments of the fast-flowing sequence of curves for subsequent races.
