Monza Returns to Schedule as Hungaroring Replacement

The European Le Mans Series has made an adjustment to its 2022 schedule with Monza coming in to replace the Hungaroring as the venue for round three in early July.

ELMS CEO Frederic Lequien said that the conditions of the contract between the series organizer and the Hungaroring were not met “due to local regulations and restrictions.”

It is unclear precisely what those restrictions are, with Hungary currently allowing sporting events to go ahead with no apparent capacity limits under the country’s COVID-19 protection measures.

The ELMS has instead opted to revisit Monza, which was originally omitted from the 2022 calendar in favor of a return to Imola.

Monza has staged an annual ELMS round since 2017 after it replaced Imola for that season, but the two Italian circuits will both feature on the schedule this season.

The Hungaroring was also initially brought back for 2022 after an absence of eight seasons until Monday’s news of its replacement.

“It is with regret that the ELMS will not be able to visit Hungary in July but due to local regulations and restrictions the management at the Hungaroring were unable to fulfill the conditions of the contract,” said Lequien.

“With its history and long flowing circuit, Monza has been a firm favorite with most members of ELMS paddock, and it has provided some great racing since the series returned in 2017.

“I would like to thank the team at Monza for their assistance and enabling the ELMS to hold round three of the 2022 season this summer.”

The 4 Hours of Monza is scheduled to take place on July 3, one week before the FIA World Endurance Championship visits the Italian Grand Prix venue for a six-hour race.

That arrangement was also in place last year and enabled some WEC teams to gain extra track time by joining the European grid.

“We are very pleased that the European Le Mans Series decided to come back to Monza also this year to consolidate an event that is becoming a tradition in our calendar,” said Autodromo Nazionale Monza managing director Alessandra Zinno.

“The real result is that the Temple of Speed will become the House of Endurance for a couple of weeks thanks to ELMS and WEC, present on two consecutive weekends in July.

“Compared to 2021, when only a thousand spectators were able to watch the sporting battles live, we will try to fill the grandstands and make the two weekends a show on and off the track.

“Thanks to the 4 Hours of Monza, the centenary season is enriched by another important event that motorsport fans will certainly appreciate.”

The location swap also applies to the supporting Michelin Le Mans Cup and Ligier European Series.

2022 European Le Mans Series Schedule
April 12 – Official Test (Paul Ricard)
April 17 – Paul Ricard
May 15 – Imola
July 3 – Monza
Aug. 28 – Barcelona
Sep. 25 – Spa-Francorchamps
Oct. 16 – Portimao