ASP in Talks With Multiple Manufacturers About LMGT3

Prominent Mercedes-AMG team Akkodis ASP is in discussions with multiple manufacturers as it pushes to secure a place on the FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 grid next year.

The French squad, which won last year’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, is talking with Toyota about potentially running the Lexus RC F GT3 in the new category that will replace GTE-Am, but also has other options on the table.

Team principal Jerome Policand said that he will take the chance to enter the WEC “whatever the manufacturer” as he aims to jump on the championship’s GT3 adoption.

Akkodis ASP is best known for its exploits in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, where it won the Endurance Cup title last year and currently leads both the Endurance and Sprint drivers’ standings.

The Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo that it currently runs in GTWC Europe would be eligible for the WEC’s LMGT3 class but it remains to be seen if the German manufacturer will receive approval from the organizers amid high demand and limited grid spaces.

Approved manufacturers will receive two entries and those with Hypercar programs will receive priority, while those with historical footprints at Le Mans will also be taken into account.

That has led ASP to spread its bets and consider aligning with another manufacturer to meet its WEC goal.

“As a team, my feeling is that if I miss the train for WEC next season, I will miss it for five years,” Policand told Sportscar365.

“So I’m doing everything to be there, but not because I don’t like this [GTWC Europe] championship. It’s the first time I have the opportunity to go to Le Mans with a GT3.

“We have been racing in GT3 since 15 years. So for me, you are at the beginning [of the platform] and then miss the opportunity to be there. For sure it’s a matter of budget.”

Policand would only confirm talks with Toyota, which ASP already has connections to courtesy of its program with the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO in FFSA French GT.

Although the final LMGT3 grid won’t be confirmed for several months, some partnerships have already been announced or strongly mooted.

Manthey will hold the Porsche entries, TF Sport is switching from Aston Martin to Chevrolet, and long-time Porsche team Proton Competition is poised to run the new Ford Mustang GT3.

Iron Lynx is set to field two Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2s and Team WRT is preparing to operate the BMW stable.

Lamborghini, BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Toyota and Chevrolet – based on its connection to Cadillac through General Motors – are manufacturers with Hypercar and GT3 projects.

“We are talking with two or three manufacturers, and they know the situation,” said Policand, who confirmed that Ferrari is not one of them.

“I can arrange some deals with drivers and sponsors, but I need real support [from the manufacturer] to start something. I am far and close.

“I’m talking with Toyota because we run the Toyota in GT4. The problem is more the timing because the Lexus is an old car.

“It would make sense with the new car, but I think it will be ready in 2026. But they are interested. I talk with another [manufacturer] but I don’t want to mention it.”

Policand is unsure whether a WEC program would come at the detriment of Akkodis ASP’s GTWC Europe involvement that goes back to the start of the Blancpain era in 2011.

When asked if his team would stop racing in GTWC Europe to enter WEC, Policand replied: “I don’t know. I’m willing not, but at one stage, we are 25 people [employed].

“We have to look at programs for my gentleman drivers. We do GT2 [with Mercedes-AMG]. I hope to know in two or three weeks.”

A WEC program would ensure Akkodi ASP’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a decade away.

Its last appearance at the event in 2014 came with a Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 driven by Soheil Ayari, Anthony Pons and World Cup-winning soccer goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.

Team boss Policand has also driven at Le Mans several times, scoring his best overall result of fourth in 1997.