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Le Mans / ALMS
ELMS: Series Expands Eligibility To GT3 Cars
European Le Mans Series opens GTC category for more than a half-dozen GT3 cars...
GT3 cars, such as the McLaren MP4-12C, will be eligible to compete in the European Le Mans Series. (Photo: United Autosports)
The European Le Mans Series is likely to have a significantly different look by the next round at Donington Park in July, as series officials announced Friday the acceptance of GT3-spec machinery to the GTC class, effective immediately.
In response to the low car count at the season-opening Six Hours of Le Castellet, which drew 21 entries, and the cancellation of the Zolder round in May, the ACO has elected to expand its GTC category, originally reserved for Porsche and Ferrari Challenge cars only, to a wide variety of GT3 entries.
Cars that will be eligible to compete, beginning with the July 13-15 round at Donington include the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, Audi R8 LMS, BMW Z4 GT3, Ferrari F458 Italia GT3, Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 GT3 +, McLaren MP4-12C GT3, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and Porsche 997 GT3-R.
The ACO says the new breed of GT3 machinery will be performance balanced to fit in behind the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am contenders in the five-class ELMS hierarchy.
As has been the case with LMPC cars competing in the ELMS, the GT3 cars will not be eligible to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship or 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The American Le Mans Series has taken the same position as the FIA WEC in not allowing GT3 cars, although the series has come under pressure to allow models, such as the Audi R8 LMS and Mercedes SLS AMG, to compete in the championship. No decision has been made from IMSA, the sanctioning body of the ten-round ALMS series, as of yet.
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
In response to the low car count at the season-opening Six Hours of Le Castellet, which drew 21 entries, and the cancellation of the Zolder round in May, the ACO has elected to expand its GTC category, originally reserved for Porsche and Ferrari Challenge cars only, to a wide variety of GT3 entries.
Cars that will be eligible to compete, beginning with the July 13-15 round at Donington include the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, Audi R8 LMS, BMW Z4 GT3, Ferrari F458 Italia GT3, Lamborghini Gallardo LP600 GT3 +, McLaren MP4-12C GT3, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and Porsche 997 GT3-R.
The ACO says the new breed of GT3 machinery will be performance balanced to fit in behind the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am contenders in the five-class ELMS hierarchy.
As has been the case with LMPC cars competing in the ELMS, the GT3 cars will not be eligible to compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship or 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The American Le Mans Series has taken the same position as the FIA WEC in not allowing GT3 cars, although the series has come under pressure to allow models, such as the Audi R8 LMS and Mercedes SLS AMG, to compete in the championship. No decision has been made from IMSA, the sanctioning body of the ten-round ALMS series, as of yet.
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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