Ratel Convinced Asian Hypercar Class Will Succeed

Photo: Julien Delfosse/DPPI

Stephane Ratel said he’s convinced that the planned addition of a Hypercar class in the Asian Le Mans Series will be a success, although said it’s ultimately up to the ACO if the class champion will receive an automatic invite to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Ratel’s SRO Motorsports Group, which became a co-promoter of the Asian series with the ACO in 2023, has backed the addition of a privateer Hypercar class which according to ACO President Pierre Fillon will mandate a Bronze-rated driver in each car.

“I think it works,” Ratel told Sportscar365. “It’s really the key to bring the cars. The manufacturers today, most are not expanding their budgets and they’re all struggling for budgets.

“To have pro cars financed by the manufacturers would be an illusion. It simply wouldn’t work.

“The only way we can get Hypercars is by having privateers, a Bronze, a Silver [rated driver]. I think it can work.

“I’m very pleased we’ve announced it. I think it’s feasible.”

While Fillon has predicted between two to three Hypercar entries for the launch season in 2026-27, Ratel said he’s more bullish on the category’s potential.

“Pierre is always more cautious than me,” he said. “I’m more adventurous. I said six [cars], with the ultimate dream would be to get to eight [cars] at some point.

“Don’t forget that we have a full grid already. When you add another six cars on top, that gives Asian Le Mans a new dimension. It gives another visibility.

“With that we can talk to events and really try to build events around it. It’s the beginning of it and I think it should work.

“We will have some European clients that we have today, especially the most important clients in LMP2 could jump into Hypercars.

“We need to generate interest from Asia. We need some of the big Asian teams. You have people who have this kind of money to put cars on the grid.

“It will be a process but it’s very exciting.”

SRO has gained considerable traction in the Asian market since since the restart of racing from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a capacity grid in GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS to the launch of the Japan Cup as well as the China-based SRO GT Cup for GT4 machinery.

“The start of the SRO GT Cup in China has been really strong,” said Ratel.  “GT World Challenge Asia is at capacity. Now the Japan Cup is really good now. Who would have even imagined that a European promoter could have 20-plus cars in Japan.

“Asian Le Mans is part of this phenomenal success, and the success of Suzuka [1000km]…

“For us, if you look the market in America, it’s such an over-crowded and competitive market that to gain two cars is difficult.

“In Asia, today, we have the world of opportunity. We can really continue. It’s a continent of four billion people. What we can develop there is that we’re just at the beginning of it.

“Asian Le Mans, at the peak, the most exclusive thing we can do, makes a lot of sense.”

When asked his thoughts on whether the Hypercar class champion should receive an auto-invite to Le Mans, as is the case for the LMP2 and GT class champions, Ratel deferred to Fillon for an answer.

The possibility of a lack of an auto-invite has been a contentious topic among several prospective entrants to the series, including IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship squad AO Racing.

“That’s a question for Pierre,” said Ratel. “Do they want to invite this car to Le Mans? I would say, normally, if you win a class, with the only exception of LMP3, you win an invite, like in LMP2 and GT.

“I would think the winner in Hypercar would get an invite. But that’s up to the ACO.”

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