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Asian Le Mans Series teams chosen to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 
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PRESS RELEASE
Friday 9 February 2018

2018 Le Mans 24 Hours
Looking forward to 16 June 2018!

Asian Le Mans Series teams chosen to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Congratulations to all the Asian Le Mans Series teams that are heading to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June this year!
 
Fresh from winning both the LMP2 and LMP3 Classes in the 2017/18 Asian Le Mans Series, Chinese flagged team, Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport will line up with four entries to the famed race in the LMP2 Class.
 
Joining them will be the 2016/17 Asian Le Mans Series Champions, Algarve Pro Racing, and series regular Eurasia Motorsport also lining up as a part of the LMP2 grid for the prestigious endurance race.
 
After narrowly missing out on the LMP3 Championship, KCMG have been named as the first reserve team. This means they will receive a place should another team withdraw between now and June. ARC Bratislava, the team that finished 3rd in the LMP2 Class this season, are also on the reserve list for a spot on the grid.  
 
In addition 2015/16 Asian Le Mans Series GT Champions and Series graduates, Clearwater Racing, will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LM GTE Am Class.  Last year the team was in contention for the LM GTE Am Championship title until the final race, and have signed up for the full FIA World Endurance Championship ‘Super Season’.  
 
Cyrille Taesch Wahlen, Asian Le Mans Series Managing Director: 
“2017 was a hugely successful season for Asian Le Mans Series teams, especially for the Jackie Chan DC Racing by Jota Sport team. They achieved what they had previously only dreamed of – finishing 1st and 2nd in the LMP2 class, as well as standing on the outright podium in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
 
“The outstanding performances from all of our teams on the global stage makes it clear the role the Asian Le Mans Series is playing in opening the region up to endurance racing. By providing a solid breeding ground for new teams and drivers, the Series is an ideal first step up the ACO ladder to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
 
“I congratulate the teams that have been chosen to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and look forward to seeing them on track at Le Mans in June!”
 
 
  • Fernando Alonso and Toyota up against five private teams in the top LM P1 class;
  • A 20-strong LM P2 grid;
  • Six manufacturers and 17 cars in LM GTE Pro;
  • Thirteen competitors in LM GTE Am;
  • Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, ACO special consultant.
The 60-car entry list for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was revealed today (9 February) at the Rétromobile Show in Paris, before an expectant audience of drivers, team bosses and journalists. The 86th running of the French endurance classic will once again make history as two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso makes his maiden Le Mans appearance at the wheel of a Toyota TS050 Hybrid. This is also the first time that a competitor who already holds two F1 world titles will make his Le Mans debut while still actively competing in F1.  The other classes will also be hotly disputed with some very high-class entries and a perfect balance between prototypes (30) and LMGTE cars (30). Make sure you save the date for the second round of the 2018-19 Super Season of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans 2018 (16 - 17 June).
 
At the next Le Mans 24 Hours, all eyes are bound to be on Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard made clear his ambition to race at Le Mans several years ago, so this is something of a dream come true – as it is for the fans, already excited at the prospect of watching the single-seater champion steer an LM P1 prototype around the 13.626 km of the iconic circuit. Alonso will be competing in endurance racing’s top class at the wheel of the #8 Toyota TS050 Hybrid, partnered by Sébastien Buemi and Kazuki Nakajima. The Japanese constructor, the only works team in the class, will have two cars on the grid in its latest bid for Le Mans glory.
 
The updated LM P1 regulations have prompted five privateer outfits to take up the challenge against Toyota, meaning there will be a total ten LMP1s on the grid on 16 June, four more than in 2017. The ACO and FIA have clearly made the right choices with their new LMP1 strategy which has drawn entries from Rebellion Racing, Bykolles Racing, CEFC TRSM Racing, Dragon Speed and SMP Racing. The class will also feature some high-profile drivers such as André Lotterer and Thomas Laurent, the whiz kid who has risen through the endurance racing ranks marked out by the ACO.
Everything points to a David-and-Goliath type scenario in this class but, as we all know, at Le Mans anything can happen.
 
The LM P2 class has proven just as popular as last year, with 15 outfits fielding 20 cars. This year however, Ligier has the advantage with nine JSP217s on the grid, followed by Oreca with eight Oreca 07s, including one Alpine A470, then three Dallaras. Riley, the fourth chassis builder in the class, will not be represented at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. Jackie Chan DC Racing, class winner in 2017 and overall runner-up, is back with a vengeance and four cars, two Ligiers and two Orecas. However, the Chinese team faces some stiff competition in the race for this year’s Le Mans crown.
 
The LM GTE Pro class has even broader appeal this year with six manufacturers competing: BMW is making its comeback to the discipline with the M8 and will line up alongside Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, Chevrolet Corvette and Ford. There will be 17 cars on the grid, illustrating the race’s international appeal and affirming the prestige of this class where victory is hugely important for the manufacturers. Last year’s winner, Aston Martin, will be fielding its new Vantage, which it hopes will more than measure up to its predecessor. The bets are on but it’s anyone’s game at this stage!
 
Finally, there will be a healthy 13-car strong LM GTE Am grid at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, endorsing the ACO’s ideal of including amateur drivers in endurance events. JMW Motorsport is the title-holder but has some serious challengers.
 
Once again, the size and diversity of the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans grid demonstrates the far-reaching appeal of the race, with teams from all over the world representing 14 nationalities. Sixty cars will line up on Saturday 16 June, split into four classes – 10 in LM P1, 20 in LM P2, 17 in LM GTE Pro and 13 in LM GTE Am – with a perfect balance between prototypes and GTEs.
 
The reserve list comprises nine teams, six LM P2 and three LM GTE Am. They will be called in as replacements in the order given.
 
At ACO, history is as important as the future, which is why we are delighted to announce that Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich will be joining us as a consultant this year. The former racing director of Audi, who led his team to 13 victories will be sharing his wealth of sporting, marketing and technical experience with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA WEC. Now retired from Audi, Dr. Ullrich is honoured to be working with the ACO: I enjoyed working with the ACO as team manager. Today’s collaboration adds another dimension to the healthy relationship we have built up over the years. I’m proud to take on this role and look forward to giving back to a discipline which gave me so much as a competitor.
 
The 36 entrants for the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship Super Season were also announced at the conference. The competitors will be racing Le Mans twice, in June this year, and next year, marking the grand finale of the FIA WEC season. To keep the competition wide open throughout, the points system has been reviewed.

Instead of carrying double points, the 24 Hours of Le Mans be worth 50% more than the 6-hour races.

As well as the 36 FIA WEC cars, the grid of the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans will be supplemented by winning teams from the whole spectrum of endurance racing. Invitations to participate will be extended to the four 2018 race class winners as well as four winners of the European Le Mans Series, one from the Michelin GT3 Cup, four from the Asian Le Mans Series and two from the Weathertech United Sports Car Championship. The remainder of the grid will be filled by the successful applicants whose names will be announced in February 2019 as is the tradition.
 
With the names of all sixty teams for 2018 revealed, thoughts turn to June, with organisers, teams and all involved looking forward to another tremendous weekend of racing. As usual, Le Mans 24 Hours action kicks off with Test Day on 3 June, the rehearsal for the big day.
 
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the European Le Mans Series and the Asian Le Mans Series are all in fine fettle and endurance racing assumes its rightful place in the motorsport world. I am delighted to see a grid of 60 magnificent cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Endurance racing has widespread appeal. The discipline continues to attract manufacturers and teams from all over the world and drivers with diverse backgrounds. All the ingredients are there – everything that makes this discipline so special – and we can look forward to the 86th 24 Hours of Le Mans being as thrilling as ever for endurance racing fans”.
 
Vincent Beaumesnil, Racing Director of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “Once again, we have a sparkling line-up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and we are proud to attract competitors of such calibre. Our hard work has paid off. In each class, we made the right choices in terms of regulations, ensuring that endurance racing is here to stay. We had a host of applications and had to make some tough decisions. With a perfect balance between prototypes and GTs – 30 of each – teams will be grappling for position right down to the line, in each class and overall.”
 
Jean Todt, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA): “The 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans will be round 2 of the FIA World Endurance Championship ‘Super Season’ and once again it has an entry that is worthy of the world’s greatest endurance race.  Sixty cars from all over the world, including seven manufacturer teams, all competing for glory at Le Mans.  With this year’s race being the first of two visits to La Sarthe in the 2018/19 FIA WEC, the 86th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be doubly exciting to watch and enjoy.  Look forward to seeing you there.”
 
Richard Mille, President of the FIA Endurance Commission: “The entry list for the 86th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is extremely strong and the sixty cars that will line up for the start on Saturday 16 June will represent the best in the world of endurance racing. While I have a long association with Le Mans, the 2018 race will be my first as President of the FIA Endurance Commission, which will make it a very special event on a personal level as well.”
ENTRY LIST

PRESS KIT 

Contact Us

Media Delegate:  Jane Rowe – asianlemans-media@lemans.org
Phone: +44 7943 916 880
Event & Marketing Coordinator: Colin Ong – c.ong@lemans.org
Team Coordinator: Matthijs Hoitink – m.hoitink@lemans.org
Technical Delegate: David Hache – d.hache@lemans.org
For any general queries: asianlemansseries@lemans.org
ABOUT THE ASIAN LE MANS SERIES
The Asian Le Mans Series is the reference endurance racing series for prototypes and GT classes in Asia.
 
The Series offers the regions only direct pathway into World Championships for both Prototype and GT race cars, and into the world’s most significant endurance race – the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
 
The Asian Le Mans Series is an important part of the Le Mans endurance racing pyramid, sitting alongside the European Le Mans Series and the IMSA Weather Tech Sports Car Championship in North America.
 
At the top of this pyramid is the FIA World Endurance Championship, which, along with the 24 Hours of Le Mans represents the summit of excellence. The race is the ultimate challenge, one that all teams and drivers want to win. The Asian Le Mans Series offers LMP2, LMP3 and GT class winners a money-can’t-buy invitation to participate in the following 24 Hours of Le Mans.
 
Launched in 2013 by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the Asian Le Mans Series is the embodiment of Le Mans endurance racing for the Asian continent. Initially operated by a third party company, the ACO took over management, organization and promotion of the Series at the end of 2014. Since then the series has gone from strength to strength.
 
The 2016/17 season built on the confidence that was developed the previous season, and saw the format evolve, with races increasing to four hours in duration, and the Series visiting four different circuits in Asia, including a return to China.
 


ABOUT THE ACO
The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) founded in 1906 is the creator and organiser of major motor sporting events including the first grand prix in the history of motor racing in 1906 followed by the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1923.

The ACO’s aim is to develop long-distance racing and since 2012 it has been the organiser and promoter of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). The club is also the creator of the continental series: the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, former American Le Mans Series (1999), the European Le Mans Series (2004), and the Asian Le Mans Series (2013).

On its own circuits at Le Mans, the ACO organises the 24 Heures Motos, the 24 Heures Karting, the 24 Heures Camions and the French Motorcycle Grand Prix. But above all the ACO is a club made up of enthusiasts who defend the rights of car users on a daily basis, and it gives its members a privileged welcome to enable them to live their passion for motor sport at the events it organises.

The ACO also has a driving school, Le Mans Driver, a leisure and kart competition complex and simulators, an Enterprise department for the organisation of seminars, a team of guides providing tours of the installations of the Le Mans circuits, two official boutiques in Le Mans and Paris as well as eight regional agencies.

 
© 2018 Asian Le Mans Endurance Management Ltd. All rights reserved.
www.asianlemansseries.com

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