LMGT3 Manufacturer Limitation a “Surprise” to Mercedes-AMG

Photo: SRO

The limitation of GT3 brands in the European Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans to only those granted entries in the FIA World Endurance Championship came as a surprise to Mercedes-AMG according to its customer racing boss.

Confirmed by ACO President Pierre Fillon earlier this month, the WEC-selected LMGT3 manufacturer base will only be eligible to be represented in the ELMS and at the French endurance classic, forcing out brands such as Mercedes-AMG and Audi that currently hold slim chances of making the cut in the world championship grid for 2024.

“It came as a surprise,” Mercedes-AMG’s Stefan Wendl told Sportscar365.

“On one hand I fully understand out of the BoP reason that if you’re not participating in any other event or championship, it’s for the organization and whole competition, [that] it’s not good to have another brand, whoever it is, to come in and show up just for one event. This will not work and this is fully accepted.

“But it was new for us that if we not receive an entry for the WEC that are not participating in [any of] the structured races like ELMS. We are in ALMS [Asian Le Mans Series] with a few cars.

“This is something we’re working on. We’re still going on in communication with the ACO and try to be eligible for the coming years and to have another platform for our customers, which are keen on participating in ACO too.”

Wendl pointed out the auto-invite that comes with winning the GT class title in the 2023-24 Asian Le Mans Series, where Mercedes-AMG customer teams GetSpeed Performance, Craft-Bamboo Racing, Triple Eight JMR and Team Motopark will all be present, would result in the winning team not being able to utilize a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo at Le Mans should the German manufacturer not be granted a WEC entry.

“All of our teams that are participating in the ALMS, they are doing it to potentially win an entry for Le Mans,” Wendl explained. “Then if they can’t use a Mercedes-AMG, they come into a conflict.”

Wendl downplayed Mercedes-AMG’s chances of making the cut in the WEC, which is believed to be limited to nine GT3 manufacturers and will likely include Aston Martin, Ford and McLaren as the only three OEMs that currently do not have a Hypercar program, which serves as a leading prerequisite for entry.

“It’s a similar limitation we had with Lello (Raffaele Marciello leaving Mercedes-AMG) is also breaking us in this point that while our brand is competing in Formula 1 at the highest level of competition, we have no LMDh or LMH car so far,” Wendl said.

“This does not allow us to participate in those ACO race series.

“It’s a shame. We thought there’s a platform for us, for our customers to participate and we would like to go there to compete with all the other manufacturers.”

With the WEC targeting to increase the grid size beyond next year’s 37 cars in 2025, Wendl said he’s hopeful that further consideration would be made to one of the most successful GT3 manufacturers in the current era.

“This will not work for ’24 but we are in discussions for the next year,” he said. “They for sure have their reasons why they couldn’t do it and this is something we need to negotiate with them.”

Audi ‘Not Giving Up Until the Finish Line’ for LMGT3 Berths

Head of Audi Sport customer racing Chris Reinke said the German brand has not yet conceded to the FIA and ACO until the WEC selection committee confirms the 2024 WEC grid next week.

Sportscar365 understands that longtime Audi customer Sainteloc Racing is prepared to enter a pair of Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs in the new-for-2024 class next year, having already completed a Goodyear tire test with a car modified to WEC’s new standards.

“To be honest, whichever route it will take, we were aware from the word ‘go’ that it will be a challenge to reach one of those grid positions,” Reinke told Sportscar365.

“But we are endurance racing approved enough to not give up fighting until the finish line.

“We will continue fighting and if the challenge increases, we will go for it. Audi has a great history in Le Mans, especially our base model, the R8, which was initiated over the original R8 LMP car racing at Le Mans.

“Therefore we have every passion in the world to bring that very car to Le Mans where it belongs.”

When asked if he feels it’s fair to limit ELMS and Le Mans grids to WEC LMGT3 manufacturers only, which forces out potential Audi customers in those events should they not receive the WEC berth, Reinke said they “fully trust” that the ACO will make the “right decisions.”

“I think there is a rational logic behind it, about grid positions, which we mathematically and logically can fully understand,” he said. “A selection has to happen.

“Into what kind of sanctions will happen, we fully trust in the ACO that they will take the right decisions.”

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