GT300 cars admitted to Asian Le Mans Series

Photo : - Super GT

From 2013, the GT300 Super GT series will compete in the Asian Le Mans Series GTC class, alongside cars complying with FIA GT3 regulations and one-make 'Cup' cars . This decision it should contribute to the development of both series.

The level of performance of GT300 will be adjusted by the ACO and the GTA (creator and promoter of Super GT) through technical solutions aimed primarily at maintaining a balance in the hierarchy of categories already present; LM GTE and LM P2 be the two primary classes of the 2013 Asian Le Mans Series. Teams that race GT300 cars can run in both series, season calendars being adjusted accordingly.

Admission of GT300 cars does not relate to the FIA World Endurance Championship ​​or the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which are exclusively reserved for LM P1, LM P2, GTE Pro and GTE Am

Masaaki Bandoh

Masaaki Bandoh (GTA Chairman, promoter of Super GT) : “The ACO, organiser of the legendary Le Mans 24-Hours race, will launch the Asian Le Mans Series in 2013. I’m particularly grateful to Messrs Pierre Fillon, the ACO President, and Rémy Brouard, the ACO Director of International Development, to have accepted our request, namely: to allow the GT 300 cars to take part in the Asian LMS. Through this collaboration, I feel sure that our Asian strategy, the organisation of GT 300 races in Asia and the training of local teams and drivers will be a strong factor in the development of the motor racing industry in these countries. Today, the collaboration between the ACO, the GTA and the 2SM Group, the Asian LMs promoter, is taking its first steps. I believe and hope that together we can contribute to the development of motor sport in Asia.” 

Pierre Fillon (president of the ACO) : “To be able to count on the support of the GTA in our development in Asia is great news for the ACO, and also for our new Asian Le Mans Series in 2013 as well as its promotional category, GTC. I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to President Bandoh and his team who came to the Le Mans 24 Hours in June to make this proposal to us. I’m sure that the ACO/GTA balance of performance will be a big success for the two championships in 2013.”

Rémy Brouard (left) and Pierre Fillon (centre) accompanied by a delegation from Indonesia, where there will be a round of the Asian Le Mans Series.

Rémy Brouard (ACO Director of International Development) : “Like the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Super GT series is a benchmark in Japan and Asia with well-attended races, major car manufacturers present with works teams, very good drivers and great circuits! It’s an honour for the Asian Le Mans Series to work with such an organisation in its future development. In what is a difficult economic context for all those involved in motor sport this decision should lead to combined meetings in Asia and Japan in the future: it will also help bring about cost reductions for the Asian teams. I’m very happy with this agreement with the GTA team concerning GT 300 in the Asian Le Mans Series, and I’d like to thank the whole GTA team for their welcome, their collaboration and their in-depth involvement!”

Mark Thomas (Asian LMS promoter) : “With eight months to go to its launch the 2013 Asian LMS is taking on an increasingly clear shape every day with circuits and major countries like Japan, China, and Indonesia, future entrants in the four categories, LM P2, LM PC, GTE and now GTC combining the FIA GT3s, GT 300 and single-make Cup cars. We’ll soon have more good news in the coming weeks on the media coverage and the full 2013 calendar.”

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