Asian Le Mans Series – 2014 Calendar announced and changes

This weekend is being held in Sepang, Malaysia, the final round of the Asian Le Mans Series 2013. The perfect opportunity for the organizers to unveil the calendar for the coming year, as well as the changes that will be made to the sporting regulations. Calendar-wise, it is planned to go from four to five races, “without the necessary budgets being higher” according to Mark Thomas, the promoter. To the four events on the menu this year will be added a second in China, on the Shanghai circuit. The schedule will break down as shown below:

July 6: Inje (South Korea)
August 10: Fuji (Japan)
October 12: Shanghai (China)
October 26: Zhuhai (China)
December 7: Sepang (Malaysia)

Concernant le règlement sportif, la principale nouveauté concerne l’arrivée de la catégorie CN (seulement celles disposant d’un châssis carbone et d’un moteur 2,0 litres Groupe N), et ce en prévision de l’arrivée du LM P3 à l’horizon 2015. En Grand Tourisme, GTE, GT3 et GT300 rouleront dorénavant ensemble dans une seule et même catégorie, les voitures étant soumises à une Balance de Performance érigée par l’ACO. Une catégorie GT Am, dans laquelle seront acceptées les voitures de Cup (Lamborghini Gallardo Trofeo, Porsche Cup, etc), sera toujours en vigueur.

If each registered crew must always include an Asian pilot, this term “Asian pilot” will be extended to Australia and New Zealand. To reduce costs incurred during the season, the decision was made to increase the number of people responsible for tire changes to two (compared to four today). Note that the sporting regulations in their entirety will be revealed in a month.

Finally, three invitations for the 24 2015 Hours of Le Mans will be awarded. The lucky beneficiaries will be the LM P2 champion and the first two in the final general classification of the GT category (who will be invited to GTE).