Asian Le Mans Series adds race, gets fourth LM24 entry

The Asian Le Mans Series and its GT class got a boost today from the Le Mans organizer the ACO, which announced a fourth automatic entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours to be awarded for success in the Asian series.

The current three entries are made to the overall champions (in LMP2) to the LMP3 champions (again in LMP2) and the GT champions (in LM GTE AM). The fourth entry will also go to a GT team, with the Asian series currently developing an 'Am' sub-class to accommodate demand in the region for an opportunity to compete in endurance racing among "gentleman" drivers, the detailed regulations of which will be released shortly.

If the new sub-class attracts sufficient numbers of entries, the auto entry will go to the winning team, if not then the second-placed team in the GT class championship will receive the invitation. Should the auto entry be awarded to the first runner-up of the GT class, the winner of the Am class will receive a free entry in the 2018-'19 Asian Le Mans Series. The decision will be taken prior to the start of the season when the full season entry is known.

Buriram to host 6h race

As previously announced, the Asian series will keep a four-event format but include a longer race. The 2017-'18 Asian Le Mans Series calendar will see the debut of a new six-hour race at Buriram in Thailand, joining the four hour races scheduled for China, Japan and Malaysia.

The 6 Hours of Buriram event will coincide with Thailand's National Children's Day on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. The race attracted a 100,000-plus crowd when it was held on the same weekend in 2016.

With early entries already coming in, the 2017-'18 grid looks set to be strong in every class, the LMP2 class entry already set to exceed last season's total and with both LMP3 and GT interest looking very strong, too.

The series continued efforts to ensure no significant calendar clashes with the other major series in the region is yet further evidence of the importance of operating in the interests of the teams and their drivers to help build motorsports interest in Asia. The current rule to allow the previous generation of LMP2 cars to compete up to the 2019 season is set to be extended beyond the introduction of the newer, Gibson-engined cars for the 2019-'20 season, the older cars accommodated within the full Bronze LMP2 Gentlemen Trophy class.

"The Asian Le Mans Series is moving forward very quickly with the support of the ACO, and of our customers. We never stop talking to them, finding out what they need to build their businesses, and to build the motorsport industry in the Asia-Pacific region," Asian Le Mans Series Managing Director Cyrille Taesch Wahlen said.