The Le Mans Cup, previously the GT3 Le Mans Cup and currently known as the Michelin Le Mans Cup under sponsorship, is an international sports car racing endurance series inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO).

Le Mans Cup
CategoryEndurance racing
CountryInternational
Inaugural season2016
Prototype ClassesLMP3
GT ClassesGT3
Tyre suppliersMichelin
Drivers' championLMP3:
Spain Julien Gerbi
France Gillian Henrion
GT3:
France Valentin Hasse-Clot
France Arnold Robin
Teams' championLMP3: Poland Team Virage
GT3: Switzerland Racing Spirit of Léman
Official websitelemanscup.com
Current season

History

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The GT3 Le Mans Cup was created in 2016 after the GTC category was dropped from the European Le Mans Series. The new tournament was designed primarily to increase the number of amateur drivers.[1][2][3] The teams' champion automatically receives an invitation to take part in the following 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGTE Am category.[4]

From the 2017 season, the series adopted a new format with LMP3 and GT3-class cars competing in their respective categories, with the ACO aiming to create a secondary division of LMP3-racing and promoting the best teams from the Le Mans Cup to the European Le Mans Series.[5]

A new LMP3 specification with higher power engines was introduced for the 2020 season; this was found to consume more fuel than predicted, forcing pit stop and stint time rule changes.

The Le Mans weekend originally had a one-hour format in 2017, and has had two 55-minute races every year since 2018. The remaining races originally had a two-hour format, later shortened to 1h 50min for the 2022 season, to enable removal of this second mandatory pit stop.

Logo History

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Drivers Championships

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LMP3 Drivers

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Season Drivers Team Poles Wins Podiums Points Clinched Margin
2017   Jean Glorieux
  Alexander Toril
  DKR Engineering 5 4 5 114 6 of 7 24
2018   Jens Petersen
  Léonard Hoogenboom
  DKR Engineering 0 3 4 103 6 of 7 11,5
2019   Laurents Hörr
  François Kirmann
  DKR Engineering 4 2 5 100 7 of 7 8,5
2020   Laurents Hörr   DKR Engineering 1 3 6 120 7 of 7 15
2021   Anthony Wells
  Colin Noble
  Nielsen Racing 0 2 3 75 7 of 7 4
2022   Tom Dillmann
  Alexander Mattschull
  Racing Spirit of Léman 0 3 5 97 7 of 7 24
2023   Julien Gerbi
  Gillian Henrion
  Team Virage 1 2 3 73 7 of 7 4

GT3 Drivers

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Season Drivers Team Poles Wins Podiums Points Clinched Margin
2016   Aleksey Basov
  Viktor Shaytar
  SMP Racing 3 4 5 121 5 of 6 14
2017   Fabio Babini
  Emanuele Busnelli
  Ebimotors 0 2 5 104.5 7 of 7 2
2018   Giacomo Piccini
  Sergio Pianezzola
  Kessel Racing 4 5 5 138 7 of 7 55
2019   Giacomo Piccini
  Sergio Pianezzola
  Kessel Racing 1 4 6 130 7 of 7 21
2020   Rino Mastronardi   Iron Lynx 5 4 7 132 6 of 7 15
2021   Nicolas Leutwiler   Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT 1 2 6 107 7 of 7 10
2022   Kasper H. Jensen
  Kristian Poulsen
  GMB Motorsport 0 2 5 109 7 of 7 16
2023   Arnold Robin
  Valentin Hasse-Clot
  Racing Spirit of Léman 1 1 5 97 7 of 7 20

Teams Championships

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LMP3 Teams

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Season Team Car Poles Wins Podiums Points Clinched Margin
2017   DKR Engineering Norma M30 5 4 5 114 6 of 7 24
2018   DKR Engineering Norma M30 0 3 4 103 6 of 7 11,5
2019   DKR Engineering Norma M30 4 2 5 100 7 of 7 8,5
2020   DKR Engineering Duqueine M30 - D08 1 3 6 120 7 of 7 31
2021   Nielsen Racing Ligier JS P320 0 2 3 75 7 of 7 4
2022   Racing Spirit of Léman Ligier JS P320 0 3 5 97 7 of 7 24
2023   Team Virage Ligier JS P320 1 2 3 73 7 of 7 4

GT3 Teams

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Season Team Car Poles Wins Podiums Points Clinched Margin
2016   TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 0 2 5 107 6 of 6 11
2017   Ebimotors Lamborghini Huracán GT3 0 2 5 104.5 7 of 7 2
2018   Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 4 5 5 138 7 of 7 55
2019   Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3 1 4 6 130 7 of 7 21
2020   Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 5 4 7 132 6 of 7 40
2021   Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GT3 6 5 7 148 6 of 7 41
2022   GMB Motorsport Honda NSX GT3 Evo22 0 2 5 109 7 of 7 16
2023   Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 1 1 5 97 7 of 7 20

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Release, News (4 May 2016). "Villorba Corse to enter 2016 Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup". {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "History - Michelin Le Mans Cup".
  3. ^ Ltd., Crash Media Group. "ACO launches Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup - Sportscars News".
  4. ^ "Prize fund revealed for new GT3 Le Mans Cup".
  5. ^ "LMP3 Cars Added to Michelin Le Mans Cup for 2017 - Sportscar365".
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