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European Le Mans Series

Inter Europol Withdraws Two Cars from ELMS

Inter Europol cancels two entries ahead of this year’s ELMS campaign…

Photo: Inter Europol

Inter Europol Competition has halved its European Le Mans Series involvement for the 2020 season by withdrawing a car each from the LMP2 and LMP3 classes.

The Polish team was originally set to run two Ligier JS P217 Gibsons in the top LMP2 category and a pair of Ligier JS P320 Nissans in LMP3.

However, it has announced shortly before the season-opening 4 Hours of Le Castellet later this month that its No. 33 and No. 14 entries won’t be taking the start.

Team principal Sascha Fassbender explained that travel complications stemming from the coronavirus pandemic resulted in the need to withdraw the two entries, leaving only the No. 34 LMP2 car and the No. 13 LMP3 on the grid.

“We had drivers signed for the cars but because of the severe travel restrictions in this COVID-19 time, and the return to racing slightly too early in the slowly opening of the economies, drivers saw no possibilities to honor their contracts, simply because they could not travel,” he said.

“We also tried very hard to get our third driver on the No. 13, the American Austin McCusker, over to Europe, but to no avail.

“So it is Martin Hippe and Nigel Moore driving the No. 13 LMP3 and Kuba Smieckowski, Rene Binder and Matevos Isaakyan in the No. 34 LMP2 in the 2020 season.

“In the meantime, we are still doing all things possible to have the No. 33 and/or the No. 14 back on track.”

Alongside its confirmation of a reduced program, Inter Europol has also revealed a new take on its distinctive green and yellow livery for the 2020 season (pictured).

The 2018-19 Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 champion finished second in the ELMS secondary prototype class points last year and 17th in the LMP2 teams’ standings.

Inter Europol still has a car entered for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in September, to be driven by Smiechowski, Binder and former SMP Racing LMP1 driver Isaakyan.

Daniel Lloyd is a UK-based reporter for Sportscar365, covering the FIA World Endurance Championship, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, among other series.

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