Le Mans Cup

Last updated
Le Mans Cup
Category Endurance racing
CountryInternational
Inaugural season2016
Prototype ClassesLMP3
GT ClassesGT3
Tyre suppliers Michelin
Drivers' championLMP3:
Flag of Spain.svg Julien Gerbi
Flag of France.svg Gillian Henrion
GT3:
Flag of France.svg Valentin Hasse-Clot
Flag of France.svg Arnold Robin
Teams' championLMP3: Flag of Poland.svg Team Virage
GT3: Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Racing Spirit of Léman
Official website lemanscup.com
Motorsport current event.svg Current season

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).

Contents

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

SeasonDriversTeam Poles WinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMargin
2017 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jean Glorieux
Flag of Spain.svg Alexander Toril
Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering 5451146 of 724
2018 Flag of Germany.svg Jens Petersen
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Léonard Hoogenboom
Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering 0341036 of 711,5
2019 Flag of Germany.svg Laurents Hörr
Flag of France.svg François Kirmann
Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering 4251007 of 78,5
2020 Flag of Germany.svg Laurents Hörr Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering 1361207 of 715
2021 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Anthony Wells
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Noble
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nielsen Racing023757 of 74
2022 Flag of France.svg Tom Dillmann
Flag of Germany.svg Alexander Mattschull
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Racing Spirit of Léman035977 of 724
2023 Flag of Spain.svg Julien Gerbi
Flag of France.svg Gillian Henrion
Flag of Poland.svg Team Virage123737 of 74

GT3 Drivers

SeasonDriversTeam Poles WinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMargin
2016 Flag of Russia.svg Aleksey Basov
Flag of Russia.svg Viktor Shaytar
Flag of Russia.svg SMP Racing 3451215 of 614
2017 Flag of Italy.svg Fabio Babini
Flag of Italy.svg Emanuele Busnelli
Flag of Italy.svg Ebimotors025104.57 of 72
2018 Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Piccini
Flag of Italy.svg Sergio Pianezzola
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kessel Racing 4551387 of 755
2019 Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Piccini
Flag of Italy.svg Sergio Pianezzola
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kessel Racing 1461307 of 721
2020 Flag of Italy.svg Rino Mastronardi Flag of Italy.svg Iron Lynx 5471326 of 715
2021 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Nicolas Leutwiler Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT 1261077 of 710
2022 Flag of Denmark.svg Kasper H. Jensen
Flag of Denmark.svg Kristian Poulsen
Flag of Denmark.svg GMB Motorsport0251097 of 716
2023 Flag of France.svg Arnold Robin
Flag of France.svg Valentin Hasse-Clot
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Racing Spirit of Léman115977 of 720

Teams Championships

LMP3 Teams

SeasonTeamCar Poles WinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMargin
2017 Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering Norma M30 5451146 of 724
2018 Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering Norma M30 0341036 of 711,5
2019 Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering Norma M30 4251007 of 78,5
2020 Flag of Luxembourg.svg DKR Engineering Duqueine M30 - D08 1361207 of 731
2021 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nielsen Racing Ligier JS P320 023757 of 74
2022 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Racing Spirit of Léman Ligier JS P320 035977 of 724
2023 Flag of Poland.svg Team Virage Ligier JS P320 123737 of 74

GT3 Teams

SeasonTeamCar Poles WinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMargin
2016 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 0251076 of 611
2017 Flag of Italy.svg Ebimotors Lamborghini Huracán GT3 025104.57 of 72
2018 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 4551387 of 755
2019 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 1461307 of 721
2020 Flag of Italy.svg Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 5471326 of 740
2021 Flag of Italy.svg Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 6571486 of 741
2022 Flag of Denmark.svg GMB Motorsport Honda NSX GT3 Evo22 0251097 of 716
2023 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 115977 of 720

See also

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References

  1. Release, News (4 May 2016). "Villorba Corse to enter 2016 Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup".{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. "History - Michelin Le Mans Cup".
  3. Ltd., Crash Media Group. "ACO launches Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup - Sportscars News".
  4. "Prize fund revealed for new GT3 Le Mans Cup".
  5. "LMP3 Cars Added to Michelin Le Mans Cup for 2017 - Sportscar365".