The WEC organisation has outlined its technique for placing collectively the grid for LMGT3, which replaces the GTE Am class in 2024, whereas stressing that additional discussions throughout the FIA Endurance Fee are required earlier than any sign-off by the World Motor Sport Council.
Underneath the plan, every producer could be restricted to a most of two entries and could be accountable for deciding on the workforce or groups that symbolize it within the WEC.
The probably transfer implies that present Hypercar rivals Ferrari and Porsche together with Lamborghini and BMW, which is able to enter the WEC’s high class subsequent yr, are on the record of producers that might be assured entries in LMGT3.
Chevrolet would even be given precedence as a result of Normal Motors sister marque competes in Hypercar with its Cadillac LMDh prototype, whereas Toyota can also be on the record as a result of it’s represented in GT3 by sister model Lexus and has its personal automobile, dubbed the GR GT3 Idea, beneath growth for 2025.
WEC boss Frederic Lequien stated: “One of many concepts which is on the desk is to have two GT3s per producer and to present precedence to the producers which are concerned in Hypercar.
“However we like range additionally: the proper state of affairs could be to have sufficient locations to additionally welcome some manufacturers which aren’t in Hypercar.
“We have to discover a truthful regulation, and it appears that is one thing truthful.
“The concept is that the OEMs will select the groups.”
#21 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO: Diego Alessi, Simon Mann, Ulysse de Pauw
Picture by: Paul Foster
Lequien added that any producer already represented within the GT ranks however not concerned in Hypercar would even be seemed upon favourably, which successfully means Aston Martin.
He stated that “loyalty to the championship is one thing we should take into accounts”.
Lequien harassed that the plan remains to be with the Endurance Fee and has but to go earlier than the WMSC.
He admitted that house on the WEC grid for LMGT3 automobiles could be restricted because the Hypercar discipline continues to develop even with the probably disappearance of LMP2 from the championship.
A most grid of between 36 and 38 automobiles is feasible for the WEC, whereas there needs to be no less than 20 automobiles entered in Hypercar in 2024.
It’s unclear if the WEC’s plans would depart room for Mercedes and Audi, two of the main GT3 marques, in addition to McLaren.
It was introduced final December that P2 prototype class is prone to disappear from the championship, whereas remaining the highest class within the sister European and Asian Le Mans Collection run by WEC promoter the Car Membership de l’Ouest.
The message from the WEC organisation to the P2 groups competing within the collection is that there’s unlikely to be a category for them subsequent yr, although there was no remaining affirmation up to now.
Lequien advised that the way forward for LMP2 within the WEC may very well be introduced on the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.
The ACO has already said that it will reserve a minimum of 15 spots for LMP2 entrants on the grid of the 24 Hours.