The ACO has reopened the process for applications to compete in the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours for 48 hours from 3pm CET today (through to 3pm on Wednesday 9 March).
The revised process is a specific response to the recent measures taken by international sporting bodies following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops affecting motorsport teams and drivers and the decision by G-Drive Racing to withdraw their entries from competition.
A parallel process has also been implemented for the 2022 ELMS with a 48-hour extension to the entry process.
The revised process should allow teams affected, primarily in this instance Algarve Pro Racing, whose cars, technical crews and, with the exception of drivers Roman Rusinov and Danii Kvyat, their contracted drivers to reapply for an entry for Le Mans this year. Eurointernational are also affected in the ELMS with a previously G-Drive branded and entered Ligier LMP3.
The Portuguese-flagged team is known to have been in close contact with the ACO and FIA WEC organisers LMEM to seek a solution and is understood by DSC to have viable full-season plans for a full-season FIA WEC entry, and two ELMS entries to replace those previously entered by G-Drive Racing.
A parallel process to allow a full season entry to the FIA WEC, albeit on a race-by-race basis has also been triggered by LMEM.
DSC is aware that both the FIA WEC and ELMS have informal ‘reserve lists’ of teams who may also seek entries.
More to follow…
