Previous-Gen LMP2 Cars to Remain Eligible

The Asian Le Mans Series will continue to allow older spec LMP2 cars to race alongside the newer generation when it is introduced in the 2019/20 season.

As first revealed by Sportscar365, the championship has been planning to keep the pre-2017 cars on the grid in the LMP2 Am Trophy sub-class.

The newer LMP2 cars, which race globally in the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and elsewhere, will feature in the overall LMP2 category.

Asia is the only region that still allows the likes of the Oreca 05, Ligier JS P2 and BR Engineering BR01 to compete with different engine makes.

So far this season, grids of seven to eight cars have been achieved in the top class, and teams have expressed a desire to see the older machinery continue.

“Two years ago it was announced that, as a part of the natural evolution of the LMP2 category, the latest generation LMP2 cars will be eligible to race in the 2019/20 Asian Le Mans Series,” read an Asian LMS statement.

“This will not mean the end of the older generation cars within the Series. The older generation cars will continue to be eligible within the Series, however from the 2019/20 season they will be limited to just the LMP2 Am Trophy class.

“The decision was made after close consultation with the teams proved that there was demand for both the old and the new generation LMP2 cars to be run in the Series.

“The teams unanimously support the decision as the right way forward for the series.”

As is currently the case, both the winning entries in LMP2 and LMP2 Am at the end of the season will receive automatic invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2020.