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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Level 5, Conquest, ESM Awarded LM24 Invites
Three American Le Mans Series teams poised for likely 24 Hours of Le Mans attack...
Extreme Speed Motorsports is among the American Le Mans Series teams to have been awarded an auto-invite for next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Photo: John Dagys)
It appears a pair of American Le Mans Series teams are on track to making their debuts in next year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, while another receiving confirmation of an entry for the world's most prestigious endurance race.
Reigning ALMS P2 class champions Level 5 Motorsports, along with runner-ups Conquest Endurance and the Petit Le Mans GT-class winning Extreme Speed Motorsports squad have all been given auto invites for the twice-around-the-clock French endurance classic, scheduled for June 22-23.
The full list of preliminary invitations was released Wednesday by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, totaling a maximum of 16 entries out of the 55 available spaces.
Class winners from this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, along with the class champions and runner-ups of the European Le Mans Series, plus Michelin Green X Challenge winners in the FIA World Endurance Championship, have all been awarded entries.
Unlike the defined criteria for the other championships, the ALMS had thee "at large" invites to hand out, which has gone to season-long competitors that have each expressed interest in competing.
While Level 5 is poised to make its third consecutive LM24 start, both Conquest Endurance and Extreme Speed Motorsports would be entering the race for the first time.
The Scott Sharp-owned team, which is coming off its most successful season to date with two class victories with its Ferrari F458 Italia, will be eligible to run in either GTE-Pro or GTE-Am.
Notable absences from the ALMS paddock are Flying Lizard Motorsports and Corvette Racing, although at least the latter is expected to apply for invites through the traditional process. Reigning ALMS P1 champions Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, which had strongly considered making a return to Le Mans, has ruled out such a program for next year.
AF Corse has again walked away with the most invites (3), thanks to its success at Le Mans, in the ELMS and the Green X Challenge, while LM24 overall winners, and WEC World Champions Audi Sport Team Joest has earned two.
In order to accept their auto invites, teams must commit to a full season of either the WEC, ALMS, ELMS or Asian Le Mans Series.
Class champions of the WEC were not awarded auto-invites, as each 2013 WEC entry includes a guaranteed starting position for the race.
The complete list of entries for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA World Endurance Championship will be announced on Jan. 31 in Paris.
List of Automatically Selected Teams For 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours:
AF Corse (3) - GTE Pro/Am (winner at Le Mans; second in ELMS; winner, Green X Challenge)
Audi Sport Team Joest (2) - LMP1 (winner at Le Mans; winner, Green X Challenge)
Starworks Motorsport - LMP2 (winner at Le Mans)
Larbre Competition - GTE-Am (winner at Le Mans)
Thiriet by TDS Racing - LMP2 (champion, ELMS)
OAK Racing - LMP2 (runner-up, ELMS)
JMW Motorsport - GTE-Pro (champion, ELMS)
JMB Racing - GTE-Pro (runner-up, ELMS)
IMSA Performance Matmut - GTE-Am (champion, ELMS)
Boutsen Ginon Racing - LMP2 (LMPC champion, ELMS)
Conquest Endurance - LMP2 (ALMS designated)
Level 5 Motorsports - LMP2 (ALMS designated)
Extreme Speed Motorsports - GTE-Pro/Am (ALMS designated)
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Reigning ALMS P2 class champions Level 5 Motorsports, along with runner-ups Conquest Endurance and the Petit Le Mans GT-class winning Extreme Speed Motorsports squad have all been given auto invites for the twice-around-the-clock French endurance classic, scheduled for June 22-23.
The full list of preliminary invitations was released Wednesday by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, totaling a maximum of 16 entries out of the 55 available spaces.
Class winners from this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, along with the class champions and runner-ups of the European Le Mans Series, plus Michelin Green X Challenge winners in the FIA World Endurance Championship, have all been awarded entries.
Unlike the defined criteria for the other championships, the ALMS had thee "at large" invites to hand out, which has gone to season-long competitors that have each expressed interest in competing.
While Level 5 is poised to make its third consecutive LM24 start, both Conquest Endurance and Extreme Speed Motorsports would be entering the race for the first time.
The Scott Sharp-owned team, which is coming off its most successful season to date with two class victories with its Ferrari F458 Italia, will be eligible to run in either GTE-Pro or GTE-Am.
Notable absences from the ALMS paddock are Flying Lizard Motorsports and Corvette Racing, although at least the latter is expected to apply for invites through the traditional process. Reigning ALMS P1 champions Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, which had strongly considered making a return to Le Mans, has ruled out such a program for next year.
AF Corse has again walked away with the most invites (3), thanks to its success at Le Mans, in the ELMS and the Green X Challenge, while LM24 overall winners, and WEC World Champions Audi Sport Team Joest has earned two.
In order to accept their auto invites, teams must commit to a full season of either the WEC, ALMS, ELMS or Asian Le Mans Series.
Class champions of the WEC were not awarded auto-invites, as each 2013 WEC entry includes a guaranteed starting position for the race.
The complete list of entries for the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours and FIA World Endurance Championship will be announced on Jan. 31 in Paris.
List of Automatically Selected Teams For 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours:
AF Corse (3) - GTE Pro/Am (winner at Le Mans; second in ELMS; winner, Green X Challenge)
Audi Sport Team Joest (2) - LMP1 (winner at Le Mans; winner, Green X Challenge)
Starworks Motorsport - LMP2 (winner at Le Mans)
Larbre Competition - GTE-Am (winner at Le Mans)
Thiriet by TDS Racing - LMP2 (champion, ELMS)
OAK Racing - LMP2 (runner-up, ELMS)
JMW Motorsport - GTE-Pro (champion, ELMS)
JMB Racing - GTE-Pro (runner-up, ELMS)
IMSA Performance Matmut - GTE-Am (champion, ELMS)
Boutsen Ginon Racing - LMP2 (LMPC champion, ELMS)
Conquest Endurance - LMP2 (ALMS designated)
Level 5 Motorsports - LMP2 (ALMS designated)
Extreme Speed Motorsports - GTE-Pro/Am (ALMS designated)
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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