The Le Mans Cup, previously the GT3 Le Mans Cup and currently known as the Michelin Le Mans Cup under sponsorship, is an international sports car racing endurance series inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO).
History
The GT3 Le Mans Cup was created in 2016 after the GTC category was dropped from the European Le Mans Series. The new series was designed primarily to increase the number of amateur drivers. The teams' champion automatically receives an invitation to take part in the following 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGT3 category.
From the 2017 season, the series adopted a new format with LMP3 and GT3-class cars competing in their respective categories, with the ACO aiming to create a secondary division of LMP3-racing and promoting the best teams from the Le Mans Cup to the European Le Mans Series.
A new LMP3 specification with higher power engines was introduced for the 2020 season; this was found to consume more fuel than predicted, forcing pit stop and stint time rule changes.
The Le Mans weekend originally had a one-hour format in 2017, and has had two 55-minute races every year since 2018. The remaining races originally had a two-hour format, later shortened to 1h 50min for the 2022 season, to enable removal of this second mandatory pit stop.
Starting in the 2025 Le Mans Cup Season, the LMP3 Class will be split into two with the introduction of LMP3 Pro-Am as well as new ACO Generation III LMP3 Built cars will be eligible for the category such as the Ginetta G61-LT-P3 Evo, Ligier JS P325, Duqueine D09, and the ADESS AD25 all of which use a V35A-FTS 3.5L Toyota V6 twin turbo engine and Michelin tyres.
Logo History
Drivers Championships
LMP3 Drivers SeasonDriversTeamPolesWinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMarginRef2017 Jean Glorieux Alexander Toril DKR Engineering5451146 of 7242018 Jens Petersen Leonard Hoogenboom DKR Engineering0341036 of 711,52019 Laurents Hörr François Kirmann DKR Engineering4251007 of 78,52020 Laurents Hörr DKR Engineering1361207 of 7152021 Anthony Wells Colin Noble Nielsen Racing023757 of 742022 Tom Dillmann Alexander Mattschull Racing Spirit of Léman035977 of 7242023 Julien Gerbi Gillian Henrion Team Virage123737 of 742024 David Droux Adrien Chila Cool Racing01273.57 of 75.52025 Hadrien David Hugo Schwarze R-ace GP3451166 of 745
LMP3 Pro-Am Drivers SeasonDriversTeamPolesWinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMarginRef2025 Eric De Doncker Gillian Henrion Motorsport98025887 of 73
GT3 Drivers SeasonDriversTeamPolesWinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMarginRef2016 Aleksey Basov Viktor Shaytar SMP Racing3451215 of 6142017 Fabio Babini Emanuele Busnelli Ebimotors025104.57 of 722018 Giacomo Piccini Sergio Pianezzola Kessel Racing4551387 of 7552019 Giacomo Piccini Sergio Pianezzola Kessel Racing1461307 of 7212020 Rino Mastronardi Iron Lynx5471326 of 7152021 Nicolas Leutwiler Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT1261077 of 7102022 Kasper H. Jensen Kristian Poulsen GMB Motorsport0251097 of 7162023 Arnold Robin Valentin Hasse-Clot Racing Spirit of Léman115977 of 7202024 Alessandro Balzan Matt Kurzejewski AF Corse247133.55 of 733.52025 Alessandro Cozzi Eliseo Donno AF Corse1161047 of 79
Teams Championships
LMP3 Teams SeasonTeamCarPolesWinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMarginRefs2017 DKR EngineeringNorma M305451146 of 7242018 DKR EngineeringNorma M300341036 of 711.52019 DKR EngineeringNorma M304251007 of 78.52020 DKR EngineeringDuqueine M30 - D081361207 of 7312021 Nielsen RacingLigier JS P320023757 of 742022 Racing Spirit of LémanLigier JS P320035977 of 7242023 Team VirageLigier JS P320123737 of 742024 Cool RacingLigier JS P32001273.57 of 75.52025 R-ace GPDuqueine D093451166 of 745
LMP3 Pro-Am Teams SeasonTeamCarPolesWinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMarginRefs2025 Motorsport98Ligier JS P325025887 of 73
GT3 Teams SeasonTeamCarPolesWinsPodiumsPointsClinchedMarginRefs2016 TF SportAston Martin Vantage GT30251076 of 6112017 EbimotorsLamborghini Huracán GT3025104.57 of 722018 Kessel RacingFerrari 488 GT34551387 of 7552019 Kessel RacingFerrari 488 GT31461307 of 7212020 Iron LynxFerrari 488 GT35471326 of 7402021 Iron LynxFerrari 488 GT36571486 of 7412022 GMB MotorsportHonda NSX GT3 Evo220251097 of 7162023 Racing Spirit of LémanAston Martin Vantage AMR GT3115977 of 7202024 AF CorseFerrari 296 GT3247133.55 of 7422025 AF CorseFerrari 296 GT31161047 of 79
Circuits
Imola Circuit (2016, 2022) Circuit de la Sarthe (2016–present) Red Bull Ring (2016–2018) Circuit Paul Ricard (2016–present) Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (2016–present) Circuito do Estoril (2016) Monza Circuit (2017–2022) Algarve International Circuit (2017–present) Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (2019, 2021, 2023–present) MotorLand Aragón (2023) Mugello Circuit (2024) Silverstone Circuit (2025–present))
See also European Le Mans Series World Sportscar Championship
References
External links
Official ACO website