Le Mans Cup Explained

Pixels:300px
Category:Endurance racing
Country/Region:International
Inaugural:2016
Lmp Classes:LMP3
Gt Classes:GT3
Tyres:Michelin
Champion Driver:LMP3:
Julien Gerbi
Gillian Henrion
GT3:
Valentin Hasse-Clot
Arnold Robin
Champion Team:LMP3: Team Virage
GT3: Racing Spirit of Léman
Current Season:2024 Le Mans Cup
Website:lemanscup.com

The Le Mans Cup, previously the GT3 Le Mans Cup and currently known as the Michelin Le Mans Cup under sponsorship, is an international sports car racing endurance series inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO).

History

The GT3 Le Mans Cup was created in 2016 after the GTC category was dropped from the European Le Mans Series. The new tournament was designed primarily to increase the number of amateur drivers.[1] [2] [3] The teams' champion automatically receives an invitation to take part in the following 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGTE Am category.[4]

From the 2017 season, the series adopted a new format with LMP3 and GT3-class cars competing in their respective categories, with the ACO aiming to create a secondary division of LMP3-racing and promoting the best teams from the Le Mans Cup to the European Le Mans Series.[5]

A new LMP3 specification with higher power engines was introduced for the 2020 season; this was found to consume more fuel than predicted, forcing pit stop and stint time rule changes.

The Le Mans weekend originally had a one-hour format in 2017, and has had two 55-minute races every year since 2018. The remaining races originally had a two-hour format, later shortened to 1h 50min for the 2022 season, to enable removal of this second mandatory pit stop.

Drivers Championships

LMP3 Drivers

scope=colSeasonscope=colDriversscope=colTeamscope=colPolesscope=colWinsscope=colPodiumsscope=colPointsscope=colClinchedscope=colMargin
2017 Jean Glorieux
Alexander Toril
DKR Engineering5451146 of 724
2018 Jens Petersen
Léonard Hoogenboom
DKR Engineering0341036 of 711,5
2019 Laurents Hörr
François Kirmann
DKR Engineering4251007 of 78,5
2020 Laurents Hörr DKR Engineering1361207 of 715
2021 Anthony Wells
Colin Noble
Nielsen Racing023757 of 74
2022 Tom Dillmann
Alexander Mattschull
Racing Spirit of Léman035977 of 724
2023 Julien Gerbi
Gillian Henrion
Team Virage123737 of 74

GT3 Drivers

scope=colSeasonscope=colDriversscope=colTeamscope=colPolesscope=colWinsscope=colPodiumsscope=colPointsscope=colClinchedscope=colMargin
2016 Aleksey Basov
Viktor Shaytar
SMP Racing3451215 of 614
2017 Fabio Babini
Emanuele Busnelli
Ebimotors025104.57 of 72
2018 Giacomo Piccini
Sergio Pianezzola
Kessel Racing4551387 of 755
2019 Giacomo Piccini
Sergio Pianezzola
Kessel Racing1461307 of 721
2020 Rino Mastronardi Iron Lynx5471326 of 715
2021 Nicolas Leutwiler Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT1261077 of 710
2022 Kasper H. Jensen
Kristian Poulsen
GMB Motorsport0251097 of 716
2023 Arnold Robin
Valentin Hasse-Clot
Racing Spirit of Léman115977 of 720

Teams Championships

LMP3 Teams

scope=colSeasonscope=colTeamscope=colCarscope=colPolesscope=colWinsscope=colPodiumsscope=colPointsscope=colClinchedscope=colMargin
2017 DKR EngineeringNorma M305451146 of 724
2018 DKR EngineeringNorma M300341036 of 711,5
2019 DKR EngineeringNorma M304251007 of 78,5
2020 DKR EngineeringDuqueine M30 - D081361207 of 731
2021 Nielsen RacingLigier JS P320023757 of 74
2022 Racing Spirit of LémanLigier JS P320035977 of 724
2023 Team VirageLigier JS P320123737 of 74

GT3 Teams

scope=colSeasonscope=colTeamscope=colCarscope=colPolesscope=colWinsscope=colPodiumsscope=colPointsscope=colClinchedscope=colMargin
2016 TF SportAston Martin Vantage GT30251076 of 611
2017 EbimotorsLamborghini Huracán GT3025104.57 of 72
2018 Kessel RacingFerrari 488 GT34551387 of 755
2019 Kessel RacingFerrari 488 GT31461307 of 721
2020 Iron LynxFerrari 488 GT35471326 of 740
2021 Iron LynxFerrari 488 GT36571486 of 741
2022 GMB MotorsportHonda NSX GT3 Evo220251097 of 716
2023 Racing Spirit of LémanAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3115977 of 720

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Villorba Corse to enter 2016 Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup. News. Release. 4 May 2016.
  2. Web site: History - Michelin Le Mans Cup.
  3. Web site: ACO launches Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup - Sportscars News. Crash Media Group. Ltd..
  4. Web site: Prize fund revealed for new GT3 Le Mans Cup.
  5. Web site: LMP3 Cars Added to Michelin Le Mans Cup for 2017 - Sportscar365.