ACO Planning New Asian Prototype Sprint Championship

Photo: Rewind Images/Asian LMS

The Asian Le Mans Series could be joined by a second ACO-run championship in Asia next year, with organizers planning the launch of a summer sprint series for prototype machinery. (En Français)

“Following discussions with teams and manufacturers in LMP3, we are studying the possible launch of a sprint series of LMP3 and CN cars,” Asian LMS Operations Manager Cyrille Taesch Whalen told Endurance-Info.

“The idea is to set up a championship between the spring and the summer [next year].

“The constructors are in favor of this idea and several teams have shown interest to represent a manufacturer in Asia, as has been the case with ADESS AG and Team AAI.”

The format has yet to be finalized but indications are pointing towards a four-weekend calendar, each with two races consisting of less than one hour in length.

“We are here to develop the Asian market,” Taesch Whalen said. “We hope to have more information at the Sepang meeting [next month].

“There will inevitably be a connection between this new series and the current [Asian Le Mans] championship.”

In the short term, the Asian Le Mans Series could expand to four-hour races next season, but remaining at four rounds.

If the new sprint series does launch, Taesch Whalen said it will not clash with major championships currently in Asia.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John