[ELMS] ELMS 2016

[Japanese Samurai]

Japanese Autosport web reports that Japanese Super GT driver Ryo Hirakawa might participate in ELMS this season.
http://as-web.jp/news/info.php?c_id=2&no=70728

[Artur]

I don't like packed tracks. If a race is crowded, then I won't bother with it.

I much prefer to see the LMP1s deal with GTs/P2s just a few times rathen than during all the corners as would happen on a 5-7km track with +50 cars

Of course an empty grid(figuratively speaking) is also boring, so there is some middle term that has to be achieved, imho. That is why I like the current number of cars on WEC, it's not either empty or crowded enough for my taste.

[Coach Ep]

Race Performance back in P2 + going P3 as well. They must have had a call from the ACO already then.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/...-in-lmp2-lmp3/

[Deleted]

What call? Already had auto entry.

So in P3 we have one remaining Ginetta (unless they resign too), IIRC three ADESS (for now) of which 0 to 3 may actually materialize, no Rileys, and Domes don't even exist til next year. Just loads of Onroaks

[Coach Ep]

P3 entry in ELMS

[Deleted]

Righto.

[Mike E]

Greaves to operate Krohn Ligier in ELMS, and goodbye Judd V8, hello another Nissan.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/...-pla-to-drive/

[Mike E]

So not all Ligiers, then.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/0...3-in-elms.html

[Mike E]

But here is another Ligier...

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/0...programme.html

[Coach Ep]

Yes, the Riley-Ave is garanteed a entry spot this season being one of the few non-Ligiers.

With P3 being heavily over-subscribed, we might see a lot of them in VdV (et all), that series could be worth paying a little more attention to!

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Greaves to operate Krohn Ligier in ELMS, and goodbye Judd V8, hello another Nissan.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/...-pla-to-drive/

Is this replacing the Greaves entry? Or in addition to it? Neither is particularly good, but it's a massive blow if we lose Greaves completely so Tracy Krohn can have stupid spins.

[pach233]

The way the article reads, it's an additional car for Greaves on top of their own switch to the Ligier. Car count stays the same, the car will probably be more competitive but we do lose the awesome Judd engine.

Really glad about the Murphy news. I hope the Riley is competitive to help avoid a fully spec LMP3 class.

[Coach Ep]

Krohn car in addition to Greaves own ELMS entry (plus they have the WEC entry) with cars (Gibson and Ligier) still undecided to run where.

Murphy should also be back in P2 with their proven Oreca 03.

[rdjones]

Jota Sport are becoming G-Drive in both the WEC and ELMS - http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/0...ec-effort.html

A interesting development.

[TF110]

Ryo Hirakawa confirmed for elms, but team TBD http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/11057630/

[Coach Ep]

I was thinking maybe KCMG might be that team (as they are connected to Toyota in Super Formula already)?

On a related note: Does the ELMS have the same race director/officiating team (Freitas et all?) as the WEC?

[Ephaeton]

44 cars? whoa. Can't wait for "my" race(s)...

LMGTE:

af corse x 2
aston martin
TDS (aston)
proton x 2
at racing (ferrari)
JMW motorsports (ferrari)
formula racing (ferrari)

according to this all the ferrarris are 458 GTEs, not 488s.

LMP3:

united autosports x 2
oak racing x 2
by speed factory
360 racing
villorba corse
race performance
graff x 2
eurointernational x 2
inter europol
rlr msport
panis barthez
ultimate
m.racing - ymr
duqueine engineering x 2
(all ligier p3)

murphy p3 ( av reily ar2)

LMP2:

greaves x 2 (gibson, ligier)
dragonspeed (oreca 05)
eurasia (oreca 05)
s024! by lombard
idec sport racing
panis barthez
algarve pro (all ligier)
pegasus (morgan)
courage (br01)
race performance (oreca 03r judd)
g-drive (gison 015s)
krohn (ligier)
thiriet (oreca 05)
murphy (oreca 03r)

15 P2 + 20 P3 + 9 GTE

[Coach Ep]

44 cars for full season, 35 photos (P2 + P3, 9 GTs)

Courage confirmed with a BR in P2!

2 Greaves cars is a surprise!

[Pontlieue]

Great LMP2 grid. A bit disappointed by the almost complete lack of variety in LMP3.

[tux]

Its a great grid but some variety would have been nice. Still excited though!

[J Jay]

So LMP3 really is the City of Ligier...

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by J Jay

So LMP3 really is the City of Ligier...

What happened to Lanan running the Ginetta LMP3 in ELMS?!

[Coach Ep]

It got rejected (or Lanan pulled the entry) because Ginetta ran into arguments with ACO's loverboy Oreca...

[Deleted]

No ADESS. No Ginetta. Single Riley. Whippee. I hope the MGT3CUP merger race at Le Mans brings some other models too (hypothetical ASLMS ones), otherwise it's gonna be Coupe LMPC show.

15 LMP2s is impressive. But the likelihood of some withdrawals is possible now that we are aware of the LM list and some of the questionable choices there. And let's face it the actual entry lists for this series always seem to shrink from the initial ones, at least ever since 2012

[rdjones]

I think it's really sad that there no Ginetta's on the list as they did such a great job last year. I have no idea what has gone on between Ginetta, the ACO and ORECA but its just a shame they couldn't sort it out.