The 2024 European Le Mans Series schedule has been revealed today by the ACO. It features six four-hour races in five countries, with the addition of Mugello in Italy serving as the one notable venue change from the 2023 ELMS calendar.
The circuit missing from the 2023 campaign is Motorland Aragon in Spain, which staged an into-the-night race last month.
The season is set to get underway at Barcelona with a pre-season Prologue test, ahead of a full race weekend in April. From there the ELMS teams will head to Paul Ricard in May before Le Mans. After the 24 Hours, the ELMS teams will then travel to Imola and Spa in July and August (the race in Belgium moving earlier in the year than in previous seasons), before heading to Mugello for the first time in September and Portimao for a season-ending Saturday race in October.
“The addition of Mugello to the 2024 European Le Mans Series calendar is very welcome, and the Italian circuit joins an ever-growing list of top European circuits that have hosted an ELMS race,” said Frédéric Lequien, Le Mans Endurance Management’s CEO.
“Each venue offers a unique challenge for our teams and drivers while providing exciting racing for our many fans to enjoy, either at the circuit or watching at home. We look forward to welcoming all our competitors, partners, fans, and the media in 2024.”
Impressively, there are no significant clashes with the FIA WEC, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship or the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
There is just one ELMS-IMSA clash, which is the 4 Hours of Spa being scheduled on the same weekend as the GT-only meeting for the IMSA teams at VIR.
The only notable conflicts are with the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup. The ELMS race at Paul Ricard will clash with the races at Brands Hatch, while the round at Spa will run at the same time as the SRO paddock’s visit to Magny Cours. (No ELMS races clash with the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.)
To avoid clashes, there are a number of back-to-backs for anyone competing in the ELMS and the WEC or IMSA.
The 4 Hours of Barcelona is being held the week before the Imola WEC race and IMSA round at Long Beach. The 4 Hours of Le Castellet is the week before IMSA at Laguna Seca and Spa’s traditional WEC race.
The 4 Hours of Imola meanwhile, is the week after the Spa 24 Hours (the week after Spa is IMSA CTMP and FIA WEC at Interlagos).
Finally, 4 Hours of Spa will run the week before the WEC’s Lone Star Le Mans event at COTA.
“As a feeder series, the European Le Mans Series is a major component of the Endurance pyramid,” added Pierre Fillon, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) President.
“The already high standard of racing continues to improve and the 2024 season features some of Europe’s most esteemed circuits.
“Besides the prestige of competing in an elite championship, ELMS teams have the added motivation of winning a slot on the grid at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
2024 European Le Mans Series Calendar
• Prologue Barcelona (ESP) 8-9 April 2024
• 4 Hours of Barcelona (ESP) 14 April 2024
• 4 Hours of Le Castellet (FRA) 5 May 2024
• 4 Hours of Imola (ITA) 7 July 2024
• 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) 25 August 2024
• 4 Hours of Mugello (ITA) 29 September 2024
• 4 Hours of Portimão (PRT) 19 October 2024
