The races: there will be six four-hour races, during which three classes, LMP2, LMP3 and LMGTE will battle it out to the chequered flag. This season’s GTC competitors will be able to enter the new championship launched by the ACO, the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup, which will run alongside five of the six ELMS race weekends.

The format: the 2016 season will feature three-day race weekends.

The calendar: the 2016 season will be much the same as 2015, with the addition of an extra race: instead of the usual five rounds, there will be six this year, with Belgian circuit Spa-Francorchamps added to the list for 25 September.

The support races: during ELMS weekends, in addition to the eagerly anticipated Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup, spectators will also be able to enjoy races from Formula Renault 2.0 and the single-make competition featuring the Renault RS01, formerly held during the World Series By Renault weekends.

The classes: three types of car are now accepted.
The series flagship is again LM P2, the feeder category to LMP1 in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This "Le Mans Prototype 2" (LMP2) class is reserved exclusively for privateer teams independent of constructors and/or engine suppliers. In 2016, Greaves Motorsport will be back to defend their title, while Jota Sport and Thiriet by TDS Racing have already made it clear they intend to fight them to the finish. We can no doubt look forward to another thrilling race season. LM P2 competitors racing for the full season and entering the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be restricted to three engines (for free practices, qualifying sessions and ELMS races plus the official Le Mans test day, practice and qualifying sessions and the 24 Hours of Le Mans race). Full-season entrants not competing at Le Mans are limited to two engines.

LM P3 is the new, upcoming sports prototype category created by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to form the first layer of the “Le Mans Prototypes” pyramid and is already drawing a lot of interest from teams. The chassis and body of LMP3s can be built by one of the five designated manufacturers chosen by the ACO: Ginetta (UK), Onroak Automotive (France), Adess AG (Germany), Riley Technologies (USA), and Dome (Japon). So far, only the first three in that list have competed in ELMS or the Asian Le Mans Series.

LM GTE is now the only GT category. It will feature the Ferrari 458 Italia, Aston Martin Vantage V8 and Porsche 911 RSR.

Tyre suppliers: Michelin has been named as the only tyre supplier for the LMP3 category while Dunlop is sole supplier for LM GTE. LM P2 teams are free to choose.

Invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans: the top prize for the ELMS season remains an invitation to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the “golden ticket” that most teams will be hoping to collect! Provided they compete for the full season, ELMS class winners will automatically receive an invitation to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Invitations are reserved as follows:
- The 1st LMP2 will be invited to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2017
- The 1st and 2nd LMGTEs will be invited to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2017
- The 1st LMP3 will be invited to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2017 in LMP2.

So now we just have to wait for the opening round on 16 April at Silverstone! The 2016 calendar can be found here.

David Bristol / ACO | Translated from French by Clair Pickworth
Information from the European Le Mans Series press release

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DE LA SARTHE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY 13 June 2015, RACE. Greaves Motorsport will be back to defend its ELMS title in 2016.