Le Mans 2018: the entries are open !

As from yesterday, the entries for the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans are open.  Teams wanting to compete in the legendary race at La Sarthe can send in their entry forms until the 5th of February 2018. The final entry list to be revealed on February 9th. 

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Not only the entries for Le Mans are open, also competitors for the FIA World Endurance Series and the European Le Mans Series have to field their entry by 5 February 2018.  

So far, nine teams have already been granted an invitation to take part in qualifying for the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours. These invitations have been awarded following the 2017 results in the Le Mans 24 Hours, European Le Mans Series, Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup, together with 2 teams that have been selected by 

IMSA. 

LMP2

• Jackie Chan DC Racing: winners of the 2017 LMP2 category in the 24 Hours of Le Mans; 
• G-Drive Racing: winners of the 2017 European Le Mans Series title in LMP2; 
• United Autosports: champions in the 2017 European Le Mans Series LMP3 category;
• JDC-Miller Motorsports: selected by IMSA for the Weathertech SportsCar Championship.

GTE 

• Aston Martin Racing (Pro): victory in the LM GTE Pro category at the Le Mans 24 Hours;
• JMW Motorsport (Pro or Am) has received two invitations, following their win in the LM GTE Am category at Le Mans this year and their title in the European Le Mans Series. Their invitations are valid for the LM GTE Am of Pro category. 
• TF Sport (Pro or Am): runner up in the 2017 European Le Mans Series in GTE;
• Ebimotors (Am): champions in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup (GT class).
• Keating Motorsport (Am): selected by IMSA for the Weathertech SportsCar Championship.

The remaining four auto-entries for next season's 24 Hours of Le Mans will be appointed at the end of the 2017/18 Asian Le Mans Series. The winning teams in LMP2, LMP3 and GT plus the runner up in GT will be offered a place on the grid of next years Le Mans. There's no invite in the LMP1 class next year as Porsche has withdrawn their 919 Hybrid from Le Mans and the FIA WEC. 

Each invitation can be awarded only if the car in question is entered for one of the following three championships in 2018: Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The complete list of the 60 cars entered for the Le Mans 24 Hours on 16-17 June 2018 will be revealed on 9th February.  

Kristof Vermeulen.

FIA WEC: Four Porsche 911 RSR at Le Mans in 2018 and a 919 Hybrid farewell tour

Yesterday evening, Porsche paid tribute to the worldwide achievements of teams and drivers during the 2017 season at its annual “Night of Champions” in Weissach. The huge expansion of Porsche's worldwide GT programme was announced yesterday, including a 4 car assault on the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours. 

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Porsche plans its largest ever GT factory mission at the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with 4 works cars to be entered in the GTE Pro class. Both Porsche GT teams form the FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA Weathertech Championship will field two 911 RSR's each.    

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The #91 car will be driven by Gianmaria Bruni (returning to the FIA WEC and Le Mans after leaving Ferrari at the end of 2016), Richard Lietz and Frédéric Makowiecki. The #92 will be manned by Kévin Estre, Michael Chistensen and Laurens Vanthoor. In the #93 it's Patrick Pilet, Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber behind the wheel, while the #94 will be in the hands of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Sven Müller. 

Porsche remains in the FIA WEC with 2 factory cars in the GTE-Pro class, driven by Gianmaria Bruno and Richard Lietz in the #91 and Michael Christensen and Kévin Estre in the #92. In the IMSA championship Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet will drive the #911 while Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor are behind the wheel of the #912 Porsche 911 RSR.

The German manufacturer also announced an impressive program in GT3 for 2018 with a Manthey run factory effort in the Blancpain GT Series & International GT Challenge, Timo Bernhard with his team in the ADAC GT Masters and no less than nine Porsches at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with  an all star line-up in the Manthey factory cars.  

Preparations for Formula E

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There's no sign of Neel Jani and André Lotterer in Porsche's driving rosters for 2018 so far.  Both drivers are active in the Formula E championship: Jani with Dragon Racing, Lotterer with Techeetah. Lotterer is also believed to chase after a drive at Le Mans in 2018, linked to Rebellion if they might step up to LMP1 again.  

Porsche's LMP1 team is already working on their transition for Formula E in which they will enter in 2019.  Until then, the team will design, develop and test a complete powertrain. The first steps were already taken in 2017, with the concrete implementation of the concept taking place next year. The first test drives with the finished Formula E race car from Porsche are scheduled for early 2019. 

Farewell tour for the 919 Hybrid

Despite leaving the FIA WEC at the end of last season, the 919 Hybrid will still make a few outings on track in 2018. Porsche is planning a farewell tour for the three-time Le Mans winning prototype. Outside the events of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and thus outside the regulations of usable energy amounts, the 919 Hybrid will be campaigned at many individual events throughout the year. A precise programme will be announced early in 2018. At the end of 2018, the era of the ca. 900 hp hybrid prototype will come to a close. The 919 will then make its last trip to the Porsche Museum.

Christian Ried most succesful private driver of 2017

© Porsche

This year’s winner of the Porsche Cup, the trophy for the world’s most successful private Porsche driver, went to Christian Ried (38). The racing driver/owner of the Dempsey Proton Racing squad was awarded the coveted trophy by Dr Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG. Thanks to his successes in the FIA WEC and the European Le Mans Series, Ried earned 8,700 points over the past season at the wheel of the Porsche 911 RSR.

Kristof Vermeulen

ELMS: Some changes to the Sporting Regulations for 2018

After an exciting and close 2017 European Le Mans Series, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has made several small changes to the ELMS sporting regulations for the 2018 season which starts at Le Castellet in April.

New LMP2 Trophy for Bronze and Silver Crews

To recognise the gentlemen drivers taking part in LMP2 a new trophy will be introduced at each of the six rounds in the LMP2 category for the first crew in the general classification comprising of one bronze and one silver or two bronze drivers.

Additional Joker Tyres in LMP3

LMP3 competitors will have access to four additional ‘joker’ tyres which can be used at any time during the season. The number of sets of tyres per event remains unchanged at three, with no limit on the number of wet tyres that can be used.

Promoter Organised Private Test Before Each ELMS Event

In addition to the official pre-season test at Le Castellet, the promoter will organise a private test on the Wednesday before the start of the event at some of the 2018 ELMS rounds. The tests will be organised at Monza, Red Bull Ring, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimão. 

Pitstop Changes

Competitors will be allowed to bring a maximum of two wheel guns into the working area in 2018 and wheel change operations will be allowed during refuelling. 

Drive Time

Changes have been made to the minimum and maximum drive times in all three categories. In LMP2 the minimum driving time for bronze or silver drivers in two drivers’ crews has been reduced from 2h20 to 2h15. If the LMP2 crew comprises of three drivers the minimum driving time for the bronze or silver driver has been reduced to 1h10 (from 1h30) and the maximum driving time for a gold or platinium driver has been increased from 30 minutes to 40 minutes. 

In LMP3 if a two drivers crew consists of two bronze drivers they must drive for a minimum of 50 minutes each. In three drivers crews that consist of two or three bronze drivers, the bronze driver must also drive for a minimum of 50 minutes (down from one hour previously). 

In LMGTE a bronze driver in a three drivers crew must drive for a minimum of 1h30 (previously it was 45 minutes).

Kristof Vermeulen.