Round 3 of the European Le Mans Series will be held in Italy at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza on Sunday 3 July, replacing the event at the Hungaroring in Hungary on the same date. giving a second consecutive endurance double-header at the Monza with the FIA WEC racing there on the following weekend.
The move comes amidst tensions in the region resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine which shares a land border with Hungary but the switch is understood to have been prompted by an issue on noise restrictions at the circuit.
The European Le Mans Series returned to Monza in 2017 and the circuit has held a round of the championship every year since.
The move also means two visits to Italy, with the 4 Hours of Imola on the 15 May. The two Italian races will be held each side of 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will take place on the 11/12 June.
Frederic Lequien, CEO of Le Mans Endurance Management, said: “It is with regret that the ELMS will not be able to visit Hungary in July but due to local regulations and restrictions the management at the Hungaroring were unable to fulfil the conditions of the contract.
“With its history and long flowing circuit, Monza has been a firm favourite with most members of ELMS paddock, and it has provided some great racing since the series returned in 2017. I would like to thank the team at Monza for their assistance and enabling the ELMS to hold round 3 of the 2022 season this summer.”
Alessandra Zinno, Managing Director of Autodromo Nazionale Monza: “We are very pleased that the European Le Mans Series decided to come back to Monza also this year to consolidate an event that is becoming a tradition in our calendar. The real result is that the Temple of Speed will become the House of Endurance for a couple of weeks thanks to ELMS and WEC, present on two consecutive weekends in July. Compared to 2021, when only a thousand spectators were able to watch the sporting battles live, we will try to fill the grandstands and make the two weekends a show on and off the track. Thanks to the 4 Hours of Monza, the centenary season is enriched by another important event that motorsport fans will certainly appreciate.”
2022 ELMS Calendar:
12 April – Official Test – Le Castellet – FRA
17 April – 4 Hours of Le Castellet – FRA
15 May – 4 Hours of Imola – ITA
03 July – 4 Hours of Monza – ITA
28 August – 4 Hours of Barcelona – ESP
25 September – 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps – BEL
16 October – 4 Hours of Portimão – PRT
