ACO launches GT3 series for ELMS bill

Le Mans 24 Hours organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest has officially launched a new GT3 championship for the European Le Mans Series support bill in 2016.

The Michelin-backed GT3 Le Mans Cup will have a two-hour race at five of the six ELMS rounds – skipping the Silverstone opener where the European series is on the World Endurance Championship bill – and take one of the support slots on the bill for the 24 Hours itself.

It will run to a two-driver format, with one bronze-rated racer in each lineup.

France's leading domestic sports car series the FFSA GT Tour will avoid date clashes with the GT3 Le Mans Cup to encourage teams to contest both championships.

ACO president Pierre Fillon said the new category would be "for the best teams and drivers in GT3, a true gateway to access the GTE world and therefore to have the opportunity to join the family of the 24 hours of Le Mans."

The GT3 Le Mans Cup is the latest addition to a new event package created by the ELMS linking up with the World Series by Renault. With Formula Renault 3.5 departing the Renault Sport fold, the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and Renault Sport Trophy will run alongside the ELMS and GT3 series.

Originally on Autosport.com