In part one of this examination of the 2020 LMP2 entrants from the FIA WEC, ELMS and Asian LMS we tale a look at what we know thus far about their plans for 2021.
Part two tomorrow takes a look at the additional teams that are examining a potential LMP2 effort in 2021 that were not on the grid in the class this year.
FIA WEC
Cetilar Racing
The proudly Italian outfit are set to give up the struggle of making their Dallara LMP2 effort competitive in the FIA WEC, instead of taking up a GTE Am effort with a Ferrari 488 GTE. Their final two races with the Dallara are therefore set to be the WEC finale in Bahrain, and a likely effort at the 2021 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.
Cool Racing
Race winners on their debut in the FIA WEC, Swiss team Cool Racing look set to shift their focus to the ELMS for 2021 in LMP2 and LMP3.
High Class Racing
No decisions yet from the Barcelona-based, Danish-flagged outfit that in 2020 have fielded an Oreca apiece in the WEC and ELMS.
Jackie Chan DC Racing
No official word yet but all signs point to the Chinese-flagged effort, operated by Jota Sport (see below) departing the LMP scene for 2021.
Jota Sport
Jota Sport re-entered the fray this season racing under their own name for the first time in several seasons and are set to return, most likely with two cars, in 2021. The Kent, UK-based squad are also evaluating additional programmes in both the Asian and European Le Mans Series.
Racing Team Nederland
After a period where a switch to IMSA looked inevitable for the TDS Racing operated squad their return to the WEC now looks almost certain
Signatech Alpine
The multi-championship-winning LMP2 squad will depart the class in the WEC in 2021 as Philippe Sinault and co cast there die in to the top class with a rebranded and grandfathered Rebellion R13 LMP1 car (soon to be Alpine A480).
United Autosports
The Championship (and Le Mans) winning team are targeting a return in 2021 with, they hope, a two-car entry.
European Le Mans Series
Algarve Pro Racing
The Portuguese-flagged, Double Asian Le Mans Series-winning squad are very much in the running to attract the G-Drive Racing banner in 2021 with the target believed to be two-car entries in both the Asian Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series in 2021.
BHK Motorsport
The low-key British-flagged but Italian-based effort looks set to return with a single car. They are also actively seeking customers to tackle the Asian Le Mans Series.
Cool Racing
Whilst the team’s WEC programme looks likely to be parked the future for the team’s ELMS effort looks rather brighter with a single car.
DragonSpeed
Whilst looking for a programme in the ELMS, the team that provided G-Drive racing with the title in 2017 has confirmed to DSC that their primary campaign will be in the WEC with a single Oreca.
Duqueine
Current indications are that the team is set to return, again with a single car effort in the ELMS, a WEC effort has certainly been examined as an option but looks less likely.
G-Drive Racing
Now certain to leave TDS Racing and almost certain to move the effort (and the financial backing) to Algarve Pro Racing.
Graff
Most likely to retain a single car entry as in 2020. Understood to be very disappointed that the Asian Le Mans Seres will not offer an Auto-entry for an LMP2 Am class in 2021.
High Class Racing
No decisions yet from the Barcelona-based, Danish-flagged outfit that in 2020 have fielded an Oreca apiece in the WEC and ELMS.
IDEC Sport
Lots still to be decided at IDEC Sport after a simply horrible season in defence of their 2019 ELMS title. The team are understood to be targeting a return with two LMP2 entries but that is far from a done deal at this point.
Inter Europol Competition
The Polish-flagged team are set to take delivery of their new ORECA in the coming weeks after competing in Petit Le Mans and the Sebring 12 Hours assisted by PR1 Mathiesen and utilising an Era Motorsport Oreca.
The team’s own car looks set to make its debut at the Rolex 24 Hours and the team have already announced that they will enter the WEC in 2021
In addition, they are looking to enter the Asian Le Mans Series with at least one of their Ligier JS P217s. The team will concentrate on LMP3 for their ELMS efforts in 2021.
Panis Racing
Another team that looks set to repeat its single-car 2021 effort in the ELMS. They too are evaluating a potential FIA WEC programme.
Richard Mille Racing
The all-female LMP2 effort looks set to continue for a second season, likely in the ELMS though a switch to the WEC is also possible.
United Autosports
The 2020 Champions look set to target a return alongside a WEC programme with 1-2 cars once again.
Asian Le Mans Series
ARC Bratislava
Look set to switch to a Ginetta LMP3 effort in 221 but the team has a Ligier JS P217 and is known to have looked at costing both an Asian LMS, and a WEC programme with the car.
Eurasia Motorsport
After a 2-car Ligier effort in 2019/20 the Philippines-flagged team is targeting a return with a single Ligier this coming season. Media reports of the team leasing an Oreca are understood to have been entirely incorrect.
K2 Uchino Racing
The first-ever Japanese-flagged LMP2 team looks set to return with a single Oreca for a second season after showing signs of emerging form towards the end of last season.
Rick Ware Racing/ Eurointernational
LMP2 Am entrants in Asia last year and auto entry into the 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours after taking the ELMS LMP3 title. In 2020 their plans with their LMP2 Ligier are focused on an effort in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Thunderhead Carlin
All is quiet on the Carlin front, the potential late season return in the ELMS did not materlialise. No news may not, in this instance, be good news.
