ELMS ELMS 2016 - Page 2

Coach Ep · 6 Oct 2015, 15:26 (Ref:3579979)

I would have been surprised to see them continue in the ELMS next season anyway but still a shocking and bizar move!

Still hope Bas Leinders finds another good position - and perhaps a few of his former co-workers can join him there?

tux · 6 Oct 2015, 15:35 (Ref:3579981)

So it seems that LMP3 and GT3 classes will increase in size, GTE around the same level (we lose VDS but gain Beechdean).

Id replace Paul Ricard with Magny Cours!

Mike E · 7 Oct 2015, 11:10 (Ref:3580228)

Olivier Panis is looking at setting up an ELMS team, running in P2 and possibly P3 with a Le Mans entry as well.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...ce=mostpopular

Coach Ep · 7 Oct 2015, 13:53 (Ref:3580261)

Quote:

He [Panis] explained that he would link up with an existing team for next year rather than starting his own operation from scratch, while stressing that it would be from France.

Any suggestions on who that team might be?

blankfile · 7 Oct 2015, 13:55 (Ref:3580262)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Any suggestions on who that team might be?

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/...-star-barthez/

Sportscar365 seems to have the answer

Coach Ep · 7 Oct 2015, 13:58 (Ref:3580264)

Thx!

That's a new team to sportscar racing, nice!

Speed-King · 18 Oct 2015, 11:33 (Ref:3583828)

No more GT3s in ELMS next year:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...-answered.html

tux · 18 Oct 2015, 12:34 (Ref:3583845)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

No more GT3s in ELMS next year:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...-answered.html

Strange, some teams already announced programs in ELMS with GT3 cars.

TheMightyM · 18 Oct 2015, 13:41 (Ref:3583884)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

No more GT3s in ELMS next year:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...-answered.html

So just LMP 2, LMP3, and GTE- Am. I can't say that I'm surprised.

The real question is how bad the Le Mans entry squeeze will be -- with Ford coming to the WEC and wanting four Le Mans entries and all the people talking about running a P2 in WEC, how many entries will that leave for ELMS teams? If the answer is “not that many”, will those teams that aren’t likely to be running at Le Mans continue with their ELMS programs or would funding be contingent upon a Le Mans entry?

tux · 18 Oct 2015, 16:56 (Ref:3583932)

Im kind of fearful for the ELMS going forward today without GT3 & Marc VDS we would have had 23 cars. Now 23 cars is watchable because its competitive but if the series loses a couple of GTE/LMP2 cars then we are under 20 and it starts to get pretty boring for a 4 hour race. Losing GT3 probably wont impact a huge deal but watching the series trackside it was nice to have that little more variety.

Victor_RO · 18 Oct 2015, 17:01 (Ref:3583933)

True, but considering how many LMP3 cars have been sold (OAK have finally confirmed that they have had at least 30 orders for their car) the loss of a couple of GTE cars and the GTC class will probably be more than offset by LMP3 exploding in terms of entries.

Coach Ep · 19 Oct 2015, 14:45 (Ref:3584110)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

No more GT3s in ELMS next year:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...-answered.html

Full release on launch of ACO Michelin GT3 Cup:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...-for-2016.html

bullet points:
- 5 two hours races (skipping Silverstone)
- 1 hour support race LM24 for full seasonal GT3 + P3 entrants (incl. AsLMS), entry capped to 45 cars
- auto invite for winner in LM24 GTE following year
- GTC (GT3) removed from ELMS (as mentioned above)
- prize money (to be announced) awarded
- grid to be expected up to 20 cars for first season

The schedule therefor looks like this:

March 22/23 prologue pre season test Paul Ricard (if invited)?
May 15 - Imola
June 18 - Le Mans (support race)
July 17 - Red Bull Ring
August 28 - Paul Ricard
September 25 - Spa (date to be confirmed)
October 23 - Estoril

clashes with Blancpain series:
- Imola <-> BES @ Silverstone (which was brought forward by a week compared to previous years - will it be moved back?)
- Paul Ricard <-> BSS @ Hungaroring

All in all a serious attempt by the ACO to expand their 'ladder system' [empire seems a better word], taking a fresh and the most serious shot so far at SRO's Blancpain (Endurance) Series. Imo, there's room for both, especially with the Bronze driver requirement for the ACO series, the abundance of available cars and the possibility for teams/owners to compete in both, having another option to make a return on their investment.
The 2 current scheduled clashes aren't the biggest deal (yet) either but it shows once again both (?) organizations are not willing to satisfy customer preferences beyond their own agenda - which is a disappointment for the type of racing, its competitors and its fans. As a result I'd expect the BSS 'to suffer most' from it. Plus let's hope SRO isn't too stubborn (and the track is able) to move their BES Silverstone date back a week again.

Anyway, the LM support race should be an interesting one with the mix of GT3 and LMP3 - I'm sure we'll see that combination more in the future!

ELMS could expect grids around 30 again next year, maybe towards 35 with the incoming boom of P3s.

tux · 19 Oct 2015, 15:05 (Ref:3584118)

Sad news for the ELMS. Gulf Racing UK will be moving to the WEC for 2016, add another GTE car to the departed list.

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/gul...a-wec-en-2016/

Coach Ep · 19 Oct 2015, 15:14 (Ref:3584121)

They've been pingpong-ing between the 2 series for a while now haven't they? Might they do both WEC and ELMS next year?

Coach Ep · 19 Oct 2015, 15:44 (Ref:3584128)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tux

Strange, some teams already announced programs in ELMS with GT3 cars.

TF Aston is one of those I believe. Who else?

Coach Ep · 19 Oct 2015, 15:52 (Ref:3584129)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Full release on launch of ACO Michelin GT3 Cup:
http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...-for-2016.html

bullet points:
- 5 two hours races (skipping Silverstone)
- 1 hour support race LM24 for full seasonal GT3 + P3 entrants (incl. AsLMS), entry capped to 45 cars
- auto invite for winner in LM24 GTE following year
- GTC (GT3) removed from ELMS (as mentioned above)
- prize money (to be announced) awarded
- grid to be expected up to 20 cars for first season

The schedule therefor looks like this:

March 22/23 prologue pre season test Paul Ricard (if invited)?
May 15 - Imola
June 18 - Le Mans (support race)
July 17 - Red Bull Ring
August 28 - Paul Ricard
September 25 - Spa (date to be confirmed)
October 23 - Estoril

clashes with Blancpain series:
- Imola <-> BES @ Silverstone (which was brought forward by a week compared to previous years - will it be moved back?)
- Paul Ricard <-> BSS @ Hungaroring

All in all a serious attempt by the ACO to expand their 'ladder system' [empire seems a better word], taking a fresh and the most serious shot so far at SRO's Blancpain (Endurance) Series. Imo, there's room for both, especially with the Bronze driver requirement for the ACO series, the abundance of available cars and the possibility for teams/owners to compete in both, having another option to make a return on their investment.
The 2 current scheduled clashes aren't the biggest deal (yet) either but it shows once again both (?) organizations are not willing to satisfy customer preferences beyond their own agenda - which is a disappointment for the type of racing, its competitors and its fans. As a result I'd expect the BSS 'to suffer most' from it. Plus let's hope SRO isn't too stubborn (and the track is able) to move their BES Silverstone date back a week again.

Anyway, the LM support race should be an interesting one with the mix of GT3 and LMP3 - I'm sure we'll see that combination more in the future!

ELMS could expect grids around 30 again next year, maybe towards 35 with the incoming boom of P3s.

Edit: the entire package with ELMS, Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, RS01 Trophy and now Michelin GT3 Cup is shaping up to be a good one.

Btw, Renaults RS01 Trophy cars to debut in final French GT Tour event: http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...4h-series.html

Is this again a silhouette car? A welcome addition anyway/nevertheless, hopefully we'll a couple of guest appearances in the Michelin Cup next season as well.

tux · 19 Oct 2015, 16:01 (Ref:3584131)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

TF Aston is one of those I believe. Who else?

Barwell with a Huracan or 2, AF Corse, Massive Motorsport

rich07 · 19 Oct 2015, 16:05 (Ref:3584132)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tux

Sad news for the ELMS. Gulf Racing UK will be moving to the WEC for 2016, add another GTE car to the departed list.

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/gul...a-wec-en-2016/

At least that beautiful blue and orange Porsche will still be racing somewhere. We should be grateful for that.

Speed-King · 19 Oct 2015, 16:09 (Ref:3584133)

I guess the Renaults could be a nice fallback plan in case the ACO-GT3-series fails to attract a full grid.

This year, there were only 15 or so of them around in the one make series, so you could add them to a 15-20 car GT3 field and get a pretty decent combined series out of it.

Coach Ep · 19 Oct 2015, 16:42 (Ref:3584139)

Except, it's already announced they run their own series as support to the ELMS. One or two guest entries are certainly possible but more than that?

I would think the demand for ACO's GT3 Cup is for a great part coming from the regular French GT Tour entrants and the Le Mans support race will be the carrot to convince quite a few others to run as well. 20 cars seem a realistic aim but if the numbers barely exceed 10-12 (I don't see that happening though) I wouldn't be surprised to see P3s invited in.

Coach Ep · 19 Oct 2015, 20:23 (Ref:3584182)

Is the ACO sure it's the Michelin GT3 Cup?

Ephaeton · 20 Oct 2015, 06:38 (Ref:3584280)

argh, what an oversight.
It seems marketing in motorsports is unexpectedly amateur at times (F1 example, german, sorry)

**joeb** · 20 Oct 2015, 15:35 (Ref:3584353)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Is the ACO sure it's the Michelin GT3 Cup?

Oops!

Coach Ep · 20 Oct 2015, 17:43 (Ref:3584381)

GTC champs TDS Looking To GTE In 2016 with an as yet unrevealed car (would be cool if they continue with a BMW but that seems unlikely). The team has an auto entry invite for LM next year in GTE-Am.

from http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/1...-paddocks.html

Coach Ep · 23 Oct 2015, 16:47 (Ref:3585017)

Spa weekend of Sept. 23-25 seems to be confirmed (?) by Renault:

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