ELMS: GT3 cars dropped for 2016

The GTC class for GT3 machinery will disappear from the European Le Mans Series next year, organizer the Automobile Club de l'Ouest has confirmed.

The six-race series will be open only to LMP2 and LMP3 prototypes and GTE machinery a minimum of one year old. The GT3 cars that have raced in the series since 2013 will find a new home in the new-for-2016 Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup, which will be made up of five two-hour rounds on the ELMS bill and a one-hour race on the morning of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

ACO sporting manager Vincent Beaumesnil told AUTOSPORT: "We feel it is a good time to remove GT3 because we are confident of having a good field of LMP2 cars at the same time as we are expecting a big growth in LMP3."

It is likely that the four P3 constructors with cars ready for next season – Ginetta, Ligier, ADESS and Riley-Ave – will each be represented by multiple teams.

The GTC category was introduced into the ELMS in 2012, but there were no entries prior to the cancellation of the series after two rounds. It is understood that the ACO will allow lineups in the GT3 Cup to include one gold-ranked driver, rather than limiting the new series to those with silver and bronze ratings.

The rules on engine usage for LMP2 competitors have been changed for 2016: each car will be allowed to use two engines over the course of the season and those also racing at Le Mans will be allowed three.

LMP3 lineups cannot include platinum-ranked drivers and must have at least one bronze. Prize money will be introduced for the ELMS next year, but the ACO has yet to announce the amounts to be paid out.

Originally on Autosport.com