Formula Le Mans Cup: A springboard to endurance!
The Le Mans 24-Hours’ historical richness makes the race one of the greatest challenges in motor sport. Since 1923, the major manufacturers have all tackled the mythic Sarthe event that has no equal in the world.
Following in the footsteps of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which has resulted in multiple technical innovations, endurance racing is entering a period of growth with several championships showcasing its success: in Europe, the “Le Mans Series”, in North America, the “American Le Mans Series” and soon in Asia, the “Asian Le Mans Series”.
This type of racing is attracting more and more teams and drivers, and to meet this increasing demand the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and ORECA are launching the Formula Le Mans Cup in 2009. This championship will provide an ideal springboard for drivers to discover endurance racing, and prepare for an entry in the top category in the future.
In 2010, Formula Le Mans crosses a new step in its rise to power by joining the long distance racing as a proper category. That it is through Formula Le Mans Cup in Le Mans Series or of the LMP Challenge in American Le Series, the Formula Le Mans prototypes designed by ORECA want to be the first step to the highest level of endurance racing.
Taking again the bases of payment ALMS and Le Mans Series, Formula Le Mans Cup proposes to the drivers to reach the prototype category with lower costs all while being interfered with the poster prestigious races and, in contact with the best teams and drivers of the endurance racing, to be formed for a rise with the more high level. Adapted to the requirements of the long distance races, them Formula Le Mans received between 2009 and 2010 some modifications like the addition of an exhaust box, headlights…
Integration in Le Mans Series races takes place through crews of two or three drivers, each crew having a quota of five set of new tires by meeting (for races of + of 1000 km and four for races of 1000 km or less).
Pierre FILLON FLM President and ACO Vice President:
“The Formula Le Mans falls under the development desired by the ACO of a genuine endurance racing nursery! In 2010, the nursery will gear up with the launch of a Le Mans prototype drive academy with an ACO academy award on the one hand and on the other hand with the integration of the FLM into LMS races. As a consequence the learning conditions for all new drivers and teams are similar to those of the Le Mans 24 Hours in LMP1 or LMP2.“
Hugues De CHAUNAC, FLM Manager and CEO of ORECA:
“Formula Le Mans’ evolution towards the Le Mans Series occurred naturally. With the ACO, we are going to give fresh impetus to this racing category thanks to the latest measures. Formula Le Mans will take on a whole new dimension as a pre-stage to endurance racing, and on top of that it will benefit from the Le Mans Series’ aura and media coverage. In addition to top-level performance and very reasonable running costs there will be the prestige and sports-related interest inherent in long-distance races like the 1000 km races.“
Patrick PETER, Le Mans Endurance Organisation CEO, Le Mans Series co-organizer with the ACO:
“We are pleased to welcome the FLM within the Le Mans Series races. We hope that this racing nursery will highlight many young talents who will doubtlessly leave a trace in future glorious moments of endurance racing in Europe and throughout the world.“
