Gulf 12 Hours receives ACO backing

Manama : The Asian Le Mans confirmed yesterday that the entry-level LMP3 Class within the Gulf 12 Hours Endurance Race has received official endorsement by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, and will be run under the full ACO technical regulations.

This seventh edition of the Gulf 12 Hours endurance race will take place at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, on 16 December and is split into two rounds of six hours’ racing each, in true endurance style the race will consist of elements that run in daylight and under floodlights at the iconic F1 Circuit.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) is the largest motorsport body in France and was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts and the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race and owner of the Le Mans Series worldwide.

The LMP3 class is the ACO Series’ entry-level class, opening the door to prototype racing for less experienced young drivers and gentlemen drivers. Launched in 2015, the LMP3 class is a new addition and has been run as an important part of the Asian Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series. This beginner class was launched to provide the fewest number of constraints possible, whether those are budgetary, technical, driving or operational and to encourage new driving talent and teams to take part. The object was to provide an excellent grounding in what it takes to enter and compete in the series.

The LMP3 class is the first step before moving up the endurance racing ladder to LMP2 , and then ultimately to LMP1 (the professional class for FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans only). The aim of this class structure is to enable teams, drivers and constructors to learn the specific aspects of endurance racing before moving up to the top level, the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate goal for endurance racers and the legendary race has tested drivers and machines for over 80 years, and remains one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. It is the endurance race the drivers and teams all strive to win.

The endorsement of LMP3 by the governing body will improve the competition seen in the race and give more teams the opportunity to start their journey on the way to Le Mans.