The new-for-2015 LM P3 category completes the endurance pyramid, giving gentlemen drivers and rookies the chance to hone their experience before moving up to LM P2, or even LM P1 for most talented among them. Undeniably, one of the stars in LM P3 will be Sir Chris Hoy, six-times Olympic cycling gold medallist.
With 12 prototypes on the starting line, LM P2 will be the largest class at the race. It has to be said, overall victory is an appealing prospect for private teams. With the Signatech Alpine team, champions in 2013 and 2014, having moved on to the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship, the only remaining team to have already tasted glory is Thiriet by TDS Racing. Oreca will be largely represented, but we'll also need to watch Ligier, Morgan, Gibson (ex-Zytek) and the brand new BR01 from SMP Racing, which has designed its own car.
In GT, Italian team AF Corse, which claimed three GT Manufacturers' World Cups for Ferrari in the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship, is claiming the lion's share with three cars in GTC and as many again in LM GTE. This latter category also features Porsche and, of course, BMW who clinched the title at the final round in Estoril last season and have now moved up a class. Meanwhile, in GTC, we will see the Italian marque race against BMW (them again!), Aston Martin and Lamborghini.
However, before the 4 Hours of Silverstone, which starts at 14:30 on 11 April, competitors will gather at the Le Castellet racetrack for official testing on 23 and 24 March.

Entry list

Timetable

Text Cécile Bonardel / ACO Translated by Clair Pickworth

PHOTO: TOWCESTER (NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM), SILVERSTONE RACE TRACK, 4 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE, SATURDAY 19 APRIL 2014, STARTING GRID

Photo : D.R. DPPI