A total of ten automatic invitations for the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours have now been allocated with the latest pair confirmed by the results yesterday of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship.
Ben Keating wins an automatic invitation courtesy of taking the Jim Trueman Award for the best Bronze driver in LMP2 whilst Hardpoint Racing’s Rob Ferriol takes the Bob Akin Award for the best Bronze in GTD.
Keating’s win, after success through the season with PR1/ Mathiesen in their #52 ORECA, was secured simply by starting the season finale whilst Ferriol’s 8th place in GTD in the #99 Porsche was enough to fend off the sole remaining challenge from Magnus with Archangel’s John Potter.
Keating will certainly be at Le Mans, though his ticket was already secured with confirmation in Bahrain of his intent to return with TF Sport for a second consecutive fun FIA WEC season whilst Ferriol is believed to be intending to race at le Sarthe for the first time.
Also already secured via a number of other avenues are the following automatic entries:
LMP2
Team WRT – Winners LMP2 class 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours
Team WRT – Winner 2021 ELMS LMP2 Championship
United Autosports – Second 2021 ELMS LMP2 Championship
DKR Engineering – Winners 2021 ELMS LMP3 Championship
GTE Am
AF Corse – Winner GTE AM Class 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours
Iron Lynx – Winner 2021 ELMS GTE Championship
Spirit of race – Second 2021 ELMS GTE Championship
Iron Lynx – Winner GT3 class 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup
Further automatic entries will be awarded after the 2021/22 Asian Le Mans Series, set to take place next February in the UAE though there are set to be significantly fewer than in previous seasons with changes to the Sporting Regulations placing higher caps on eligibility for automatic entries.
