2013 Endurance Racing News (WEC / ELMS / ALMS)

[Wouter Melissen]

Dates for the inaugural Asian Le Mans Series announced:

Originally Posted by ACO

2013 will see the launch of the eagerly awaited Asian Le Mans Series with the calendar being confirmed with races in China, Korea, Japan and Indonesia.


Six events are programmed for the first season of the Asian Le Mans Series in 2013. They are spread all over the Asian continent with three races in China at the start of the year followed by an event in South Korea, another in Japan and the final round in Indonesia.
All the events will have the same format: free practice sessions on Friday with qualifying on Saturday and a 3-hour race on Sunday, with option to increase race distance in future years.

Full Asian Le Mans Series Calendar is as follows:

28th April 2013, Zhuhaï (China)
26th May 2013, Shanghaï (China)
7th July 2013, Ordos (China)
4th August 2013, Inje (South Korea)
22nd September, Fuji Speedway (Japan)
8th December Sentul (Indonesia)
Two of the categories of cars eligible for the Le Mans 24 Hours (LM P2 and LM GTE) are completed by another GT category (GTC) and one extra prototype category LM PC (Le Mans Prototype Challenge). The GTC category will be made up with car homologated to FIA GT3 and Super GT300 specification with a balance of performance provided by the ACO.

In order to help the maximum number of Asian entrants to learn the ropes of endurance racing with teams will consist of two or three drivers (open choice but there must be an amateur and a professional). Each line-up in each category must have at least one driver who is a native of the continent. The aim is to help bring on new talent, and also to help a few drivers who have problems finding seats.

Three invitations for the 2014 Le Mans 24 hours will be awarded to the 2013 winners of the LM P2, LM GTE and GTC categories (the GTC winners will have to enter a GTE Am car for Le Mans). The 2013 winning LM PC team will be given an invitation to take part in the 2014 test day for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

To date interest from teams, manufactures and partners have exceeded expectation and organizers expect the grid to be strong across all categories in 2013. Official team registration will commence on 28th October 2012 and run through 20th March 2013.

Organizers of the Asian Le Mans Series, are also in the process of establishing a comprehensive marketing and media program around the Series and recently announced that is has already secured two prestigious TV broadcast partners to show its races in 2013, those being, ESPN STAR Sports and Eurosport Asia-Pacific.

The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has entrusted the organization of this new Series to promoters S2M Group, established in China since 1999 and already an ACO partner for the ILMC races staged at Zhuhai in 2010 and 2011, which has been. TS Motorsport, established in Shanghai since 2005, will look after the logistics and race operating activities of the races. The ACO and its team of scrutineers and officials will be present to help this new championship get off the ground in 2013.

Pierre Fillon, Automobile Club de l’Ouest President: “The launch of a series of endurance races on the Asian continent bearing the name and embodying the values of the Le Mans 24 Hours is an essential step in the context of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s development on the international scene.
It is our duty to put on Le Mans-type endurance races where the markets are surging from an economic point of view: concerning the motor car, the Asian one is the uncontested world leader. Like all our championships that follow the Le Mans 24-Hours spirit that has lasted 89 years, the Asian Le Mans Series will enable manufacturers to showcase the reliability of their products and enhance their image, as well as demonstrating the soundness of their new technologies in a sporting, competitive spirit guaranteed by the values of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest. Our dearest wish is that an Asian driver, an Asian team or a manufacturer/constructor from the Asian Le Mans Series wins the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Mark Thomas, Managing Director of S2M Group: “Firstly I would like to thank the ACO for giving S2M Group the opportunity to be involved in the Asian Le Mans Series. Today’s calendar launch is the culmination of much time and work in terms of preparation and planning. Such a pan-Asian endurance motor sports Series cannot be successful without the collaboration of many different partners not least the respective National Associations and circuits that will host the races but also all the prospective manufacturers, teams and commercial partners that will be involved. In reality, today marks the start of much hard work to create a successful Asian Le Mans Series for many years to come. However we are confident with the team and partners we are bringing together we can cement the Series as one of the preeminent motor sports properties in Asia.”

[Wouter Melissen]

Here is a list 13 automatic entries for the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans:

Taking into account the results of the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours as well as those of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the European Le Mans Series and the American Le Mans Series, thirteen teams have won invitations to take part in qualifying practice for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours, which represent a maximum of 16 cars out of the 55 places on the grid for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours.


The following teams have been awarded this much sought-after invitation.

One invitation for:

Starworks Motorsport: LM P2 category winner in the Le Mans 24 Hours. An invitation in LM P2.
Larbre Compétition: LM GTE Am category winner in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Invitation in LM GTE Am.
Thiriet by TDS Racing: European Le Mans Series LM P2 winner. Invitation in LM P2.
OAK Racing: 2nd European Le Mans Series LM P2. Invitation in LM P2.
JMW Motorsport: European Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro winner. Invitation in LM GTE Pro.
JMB Racing: 2nd European Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro. Invitation in LM GTE Pro.
IMSA Performance Matmut: European Le Mans Series LM GTE Am winner. Invitation in LM GTE Am.
Boutsen Ginion Racing: European Le Mans Series LM PC winner. Invitation in LM P2.
Conquest Racing: designated by the American Le Mans Series. Invitation in LM P2.
Level 5 Motorosports: designated the American Le Mans Series. Invitation in LM P2.
Extreme Speed Motorsport: designated by the American Le Mans Series. Invitation in LM GTE (this entrant can choose between GTE Pro and GTE Am.).

Two invitations for:

Audi Sport Team Joest: winner in the LM P1 category in the Le Mans 24 Hours and winner of the Michelin Green X Challenge in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Two invitations in LM P1.

Three invitations for:

AF Corse: winner in LM GTE Pro in the Le Mans 24 Hours, second in the European Le Mans Series in LM GTE Am and winner of the Michelin Green X Challenge in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This gives one invitation in LM GTE Pro and one in LM GTE Am: for the third the entrant can choose between GTE Pro and GTE Am.

To validate these invitations the teams in question must enter for the 2013 Le Mans 24 hours, and in 2013 they must enter for at least one of the following championships: the FIA World Endurance Championship, the European Le Mans Series, American Le Mans Series or the Asian Le Mans Series.

The complete list of entries for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA World Endurance Championship will be announced on Thursday 31st January 2013 in Paris.

[henk4]

interesting to see that the car that won three of the seven WEC races in LPM1 is not automatically invited. In fact it won 3 of the 5 races in which it participated.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by henk4

interesting to see that the car that won three of the seven WEC races in LPM1 is not automatically invited. In fact it won 3 of the 5 races in which it participated.

I don't think it's a problem, or interesting really.

They will be there, end of.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

I don't think it's a problem, or interesting really.

They will be there, end of.

of course, but not "automatically"

[Wouter Melissen]

Le Mans Support Race details revealed:

The annual support race at the Le Mans 24 Hours is a jewel in the crown of historic motorsport. On Saturday 22nd June 2013, the Le Mans Legend will once again return to La Sarthe with a sensational grid of 61 Le Mans cars from the 1949-65 era.

Each year, Motor Racing Legends – the organisation behind the Le Mans Legend – selects an era of Le Mans history and invites genuine race cars and their sister cars from that period to take part in a highly nostalgic, but highly competitive historic race on the full 8.5-mile Le Mans circuit. Not only is this a chance to see real Le Mans-style cars from the past in full, on-track action at the venue where they were born to race, but it takes place just a few hours before the start of the modern 24 Hours, on the Saturday morning of the Le Mans weekend.

Next year, the historic action will be a two-driver race on Saturday 22nd June 2013, with cars from 1949 to 1965 again doing battle at Le Mans: think AC Cobra and Aston Martin DBR1, Lister Knobbly and Ferrari 250LM, Jaguar D-type and Iso Bizzarrini. But it’s not just the big bruisers at the front of the grid that demand attention. Right through the field, we can expect evocative cars of all sizes and shapes that capture the essence of Le Mans in the 1950s and early ’60s: Alfa Romeo TZ1, Porsche 904/6, Triumph TR2, Aston DB2, Jaguar XK120, Lotus, MG, Austin-Healey, Frazer Nash…

The Le Mans 24 Hours is, without doubt, the greatest endurance event in the history of motorsport – but while it’s the modern might of Audi and its rivals that makes headlines around the world, the Le Mans Legend historic support race also captures the hearts of the 200,000-plus visitors who make the pilgrimage to La Sarthe for that magical weekend in mid-June. Not to mention the vast audience across Europe who watched last year’s televised Le Mans Legend.

Don’t be caught out in 2013, however: the 22-23 June weekend slot is slightly later in the month than usual… best get it in the diary now.

More details can be found at Motor Racing Legends

[Wouter Melissen]

Porsche to field a works team with two 991 generation 911s in 2013:

Originally Posted by Porsche Press Release

For the 2013 racing season, Porsche AG will field two new GT racecars based on the newest generation of the Porsche 911 at the Le Mans 24 hour race and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). For the first time since the overall victory in 1998, a factory team from Porsche will tackle the famed long distance classic in France.

The two new Porsche 911 RSR, which race in the GTE category, will be run by the Porsche AG Team Manthey. The role of team manager goes to the experienced endurance specialist Olaf Manthey, who has celebrated five overall wins with Porsche at the Nürburgring 24 hour race and recently fielded a 911 GT3 RSR in the International GT Open.

“The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers,” says Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “What better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911’s 50th anniversary.”

[RacingManiac]

Also Rebellion is going to run ALMS full season next year....with 1 or 2 cars...
Rebellion to compete in ALMS full-time in 2013 - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com

And TRG have picked up works Aston GTE duty in ALMS:
Aston Martin to field factory-supported ALMS team in 2013 - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com

Flying Lizard will run in GTC next year:
Flying Lizard to switch to GTC class for 2013 - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen

Porsche to field a works team with two 991 generation 911s in 2013:

That is fantastic news! I want to see the livery.

I doubt any privateers will be running the 991 though, which is unfortunate.

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

I doubt any privateers will be running the 991 though, which is unfortunate.

Why would you say that?

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen

Why would you say that?

I mean in 2013. I've heard a lot of confusion over Porsche's program for 2013, and some privateers switching to other manufacturers or sticking with the 997.

[RacingManiac]

Well when the current 997 car came out it was run through Porsche first too...IIRC at Spa 24?

[Wouter Melissen]

Porsche's main business is to sell cars, so I would highly doubt the new 991 won't be made available to customers. I think the decision to field a works is due to both the high level of competition in the WEC and in preparation for the LMP1 effort due in 2014.

[RacingManiac]

I think more than anything else the factory fielding a car(through Manthey still) is part of the R&D process. Its still a new "product" that they will sell in hundreds, so field testing is nothing new for any new products. After this season 991 will be in wide circulation in GTE...

[RacingManiac]

Daytona Prototypes and LMP2 to equalise for new US series - Other news - AUTOSPORT.com

DP and P2 will be equalized for 2014, along with Delta Wing-type car.
Prototype Challenge will remain...
GTE will be lead GT class
Grand AM GT and GTC will merge
And GX class may or may not be merge with the GT and GTC...