With the introduction of the new Toyota V35A 3.5 V6 Twin Turbo engine for the LMP3 category in 2025, four of the six rounds in the upcoming Le Mans Cup season will feature 120-minute races, the ACO has announced.
This new format replaces the 110-minute races which were introduced in 2022 when the updated Nissan V8 engine was first used for the previous generation of LMP3 cars.
The races at Barcelona, Le Castellet, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao will be extended by 10 minutes thanks to the more fuel-efficient Toyota engine that will power all LMP3 cars from 2025 onwards.
In addition, the two Road To Le Mans races in June will also be extended from 55 to 60 minutes for the first time.
The only exception will be the first-ever MLMC race at Silverstone, which will run to the previous format of 110 minutes.
This decision has been taken on recommendation from ORECA, the manufacturer of the new engine, which feels there is “concern on fuel consumption for this new circuit”. More data is required before a final decision can be made for future seasons.
The changes to race length are not the only significant tweaks to the rules for 2025. This year LMP3 has been split into two classes, one for Pro line-ups with Silver and Gold-rated drivers, the other for Pro/Am crews with a mandatory Bronze.
The 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup will get underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the Collective Test on Wednesday 2 April, with Round 1 on Saturday 5 April.
