Inter Europol Plotting IMSA LMP2 Effort Next Year

Inter Europol Competition is plotting a move into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next year alongside its continuing European Le Mans Series involvement.

The Polish squad currently races in the FIA World Endurance Championship but the LMP2 class will be removed from next season’s grid based on high demand in Hypercar and LMGT3.

Team principal Sascha Fassbender said that plans are afoot for Inter Europol to remain in ELMS, where it competes in LMP2 and LMP3, as well as return to IMSA-sanctioned racing for the first time in almost four years.

Its LMP2 program will continue to revolve around Silver-rated driver Jakub ‘Kuba’ Smiechowski, the son of team owner Wojciech Smiechowski, although a Bronze driver will need to be signed to comply with the WeatherTech Championship’s regulations.

Inter Europol last raced in the U.S. in 2020 when it achieved a class podium at Motul Petit Le Mans and finished fourth at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

“We will do ELMS and at least the four long-distance races in IMSA, maybe a full IMSA program,” said Fassbender.

“I am talking at the moment with the Bronze [drivers] which is the base.

“I am talking with different Bronzes. But I am starting after Le Mans – now I’m starting to prepare for next year.

“But from the team’s side, the direction is IMSA. We will do Daytona with Kuba because it’s missing for him now after winning Le Mans.

“Kuba will do ELMS as well if he stays Silver. We are building a program around [him].

“The setup will be ELMS with two LMP2s. I would love to have two LMP3s but I do not believe I will get the second LMP3 entry back that I lost this year.”

Inter Europol is also targeting a continuation in the Asian Le Mans Series.

A new calendar will see the Asian season open at Sepang in Malaysia on Dec. 2-3 before heading west to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a trio of races in February.

Fassbender reckons that it will be possible to independently manage the new Sepang Asian LMS round and a debut in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which opens the WeatherTech Championship season at the end of January.

“It depends on the whole program, what we are doing,” he said.

“Our structure is ready to be there and there. We do it [in WEC] as well: we have the containers already loaded and nothing from Monza goes to Fuji.

“The structure is there. I can send one container to the U.S. and one to Sepang.”

Inter Europol is one of several European LMP2 teams seeking out the WeatherTech Championship, which has seen considerable interest from overseas in recent years.

The current LMP2 grid includes Algarve Pro Racing, TDS Racing and High Class Racing, while AF Corse has taken part in some of this season’s Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.

Furthermore, United Autosports recently announced that it will switch its WEC LMP2 program to the WeatherTech Championship next year, in addition to its ELMS effort.

Inter Europol Waiting for Le Mans Probe Outcome

Inter Europol started planning for the 2024 season shortly after it finished first in LMP2 at last month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, although the results of that race remain provisional until an FIA and ACO investigation into impounded parts is completed.

Parts from the No. 34 Oreca were collected during post-race checks, including the electronic control unit, but that was subsequently returned and used in the 6 Hours of Monza WEC round.

It is understood that the wiring loom is the only part that is yet to be handed back, although it is unclear when that will happen and what the FIA and ACO’s final call will be.

“For us, there is no cloud hanging because we know we are safe,” Fassbender said of the ongoing process.

“I don’t know what you can manipulate on the loom… I understand checking ECUs because they manage the power and fuel, but with a loom, I have really no doubts.”

Inter Europol’s lineup of Smiechowski, Fabio Scherer and Albert Costa is provisionally second in the WEC standings with two races to go, ten points behind the No. 41 Team WRT crew.