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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Revised Driver Classifications For 2013
Classification status of more than 30 drivers adjusted, likely to impact lineups in Pro-Am categories....
Revised driver categorizations were released by the FIA Endurance Committee this week. (Photo: John Dagys)
The FIA Endurance Committee released revisions to its driver classification rankings Wednesday, some of which are set to have a significant impact on the lineups in LMP2 and GTE-Am next year.
Drivers in all four classes of the FIA World Endurance Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the European and Asian Le Mans Series, are ranked in a four-tier medallion system (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) according to their past racing experience and achievements. Categorizations for the ALMS, following the same criteria, are performed by IMSA.
Qualifications for each category varies. Platinum status is awarded to drivers who have either competed in Formula 1, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright, have finished in the top-10 in a major open-wheel championship or is currently or has previously been a factory driver.
Gold ranking is achieved by having competitive experience in international karting or professional open-wheel championships; or being Platinum-grade but of ages 55-59, while the Silver and Bronze categories are primarily reserved for young drivers with less experience, as well as gentlemen drivers.
Each car class imposes specific restrictions on driver lineups. Every LMP2 entry must have at least one Bronze or Silver-graded driver, while no more than one Platinum or Gold can be a part of a GTE-Am class lineup. Additionally, no Bronze driver may take part in LMP1, while there are presently no restrictions in GTE-Pro.
More than 30 drivers have been re-classified for 2013, in a process the Endurance Committee says was based on the evaluation of each drivers' performance, consistency, experience and career over the course of the past season.
The most significant re-classifications are those drivers who move from Silver to Gold, and thus are no longer able to take the gentleman driver seat in a lineup; or conversely reduced to Silver status, and are thus eligible to take those mandated seats.
Included in those graduating to Gold status are Nissan-backed rising stars Alex Brundle and Lucas Ordonez, along with Mexican businessman Ricardo Gonzalez and GT racers Michele Rugolo, Rui Aguas and Spencer Pumpelly.
Notable drivers to have received downgraded status levels are David Murry (Platinum to Silver), Greg Pickett (Gold to Silver) and former F1 ace Stefan Johansson (Gold to Silver).
Drivers and managers can request re-evaluations up until one week of the final publishing of the official list, which is due out at the end of this month.
SPEED.com has obtained a copy of the initial 2013 categorization list, with changes to notable drivers listed below:
Driver - 2012 --- 2013
Rui Aguas - Silver --- Gold
Seiji Ara - Platinum --- Gold
Soheil Ayari - Platinum --- Gold
Mathias Beche - Gold --- Platinum
Jon Bennett - Bronze --- Silver
Alex Brundle - Silver --- Gold
Martin Brundle - Platinum --- Gold
Joel Camathias - Gold --- Silver
Andrew Davis - Platinum --- Gold
Fabien Giroix - Gold --- Silver
Ricardo Gonzalez - Silver --- Gold
David Heinemeier Hansson - Bronze --- Silver
Marco Holzer - Gold --- Platinum
Warren Hughes - Platinum --- Gold
Stefan Johansson - Gold --- Silver
Olivier Lombard - Gold --- Silver
John Martin - Gold --- Platinum
Maxime Martin - Gold --- Platinum
David Murry - Platinum --- Silver
Lucas Ordonez - Silver --- Gold
Nelson Panciatici - Gold --- Platinum
Greg Pickett - Gold --- Silver
Spencer Pumpelly - Silver --- Gold
Pierre Ragues - Gold --- Silver
Michele Rugolo - Silver --- Gold
Boris Said - Platinum --- Gold
Craig Stanton - Gold --- Silver
Johannes van Overbeek - Platinum --- Gold
Brian Vickers - Platinum --- Gold
Cort Wagner - Gold --- Silver
Andy Wallace - Platinum --- Gold
Michael Waltrip - Platinum --- Gold
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
Drivers in all four classes of the FIA World Endurance Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as the European and Asian Le Mans Series, are ranked in a four-tier medallion system (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) according to their past racing experience and achievements. Categorizations for the ALMS, following the same criteria, are performed by IMSA.
Qualifications for each category varies. Platinum status is awarded to drivers who have either competed in Formula 1, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright, have finished in the top-10 in a major open-wheel championship or is currently or has previously been a factory driver.
Gold ranking is achieved by having competitive experience in international karting or professional open-wheel championships; or being Platinum-grade but of ages 55-59, while the Silver and Bronze categories are primarily reserved for young drivers with less experience, as well as gentlemen drivers.
Each car class imposes specific restrictions on driver lineups. Every LMP2 entry must have at least one Bronze or Silver-graded driver, while no more than one Platinum or Gold can be a part of a GTE-Am class lineup. Additionally, no Bronze driver may take part in LMP1, while there are presently no restrictions in GTE-Pro.
More than 30 drivers have been re-classified for 2013, in a process the Endurance Committee says was based on the evaluation of each drivers' performance, consistency, experience and career over the course of the past season.
The most significant re-classifications are those drivers who move from Silver to Gold, and thus are no longer able to take the gentleman driver seat in a lineup; or conversely reduced to Silver status, and are thus eligible to take those mandated seats.
Included in those graduating to Gold status are Nissan-backed rising stars Alex Brundle and Lucas Ordonez, along with Mexican businessman Ricardo Gonzalez and GT racers Michele Rugolo, Rui Aguas and Spencer Pumpelly.
Notable drivers to have received downgraded status levels are David Murry (Platinum to Silver), Greg Pickett (Gold to Silver) and former F1 ace Stefan Johansson (Gold to Silver).
Drivers and managers can request re-evaluations up until one week of the final publishing of the official list, which is due out at the end of this month.
SPEED.com has obtained a copy of the initial 2013 categorization list, with changes to notable drivers listed below:
Driver - 2012 --- 2013
Rui Aguas - Silver --- Gold
Seiji Ara - Platinum --- Gold
Soheil Ayari - Platinum --- Gold
Mathias Beche - Gold --- Platinum
Jon Bennett - Bronze --- Silver
Alex Brundle - Silver --- Gold
Martin Brundle - Platinum --- Gold
Joel Camathias - Gold --- Silver
Andrew Davis - Platinum --- Gold
Fabien Giroix - Gold --- Silver
Ricardo Gonzalez - Silver --- Gold
David Heinemeier Hansson - Bronze --- Silver
Marco Holzer - Gold --- Platinum
Warren Hughes - Platinum --- Gold
Stefan Johansson - Gold --- Silver
Olivier Lombard - Gold --- Silver
John Martin - Gold --- Platinum
Maxime Martin - Gold --- Platinum
David Murry - Platinum --- Silver
Lucas Ordonez - Silver --- Gold
Nelson Panciatici - Gold --- Platinum
Greg Pickett - Gold --- Silver
Spencer Pumpelly - Silver --- Gold
Pierre Ragues - Gold --- Silver
Michele Rugolo - Silver --- Gold
Boris Said - Platinum --- Gold
Craig Stanton - Gold --- Silver
Johannes van Overbeek - Platinum --- Gold
Brian Vickers - Platinum --- Gold
Cort Wagner - Gold --- Silver
Andy Wallace - Platinum --- Gold
Michael Waltrip - Platinum --- Gold
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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