Le Mans Series 2011 - Some Significant Changes!

The 2011 sporting and technical regulations for the Le Mans Series have been released and there's a surprise or two in store:

First though the official registration period is open until midnight on 19 January.

2011 sees the end of the 7 year era of 1000km LMS races with the standard race length now measured in hours, all 5 2011 rounds will run to the full 6 hours (including the race still titled the 1000kms of Spa Francorchamps.)  

GT1 and GT2 are replaced by the new ACO GT classes LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am.

The five classes will feature number surrounds in 2011 as follows: red for LMP1, blue for LMP2, purple for FLM, green for LM GTE Pro, and orange for LM GTE Am.

The first two finishers in each category will receive an official invitation for the 24H of Le Mans, except in FLM (invited in LMP2), where only the winner will qualify.  In addition the winners in the Challenge Michelin Green X classification in prototype, and in GT, will also receive an automatic invitation.

The team classification also changes: Team Championship Points will be allocated to the first car to finish from each team in every race.

2011 Calendar

11–12 March Official tests – Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT
1-2-3 April 6 Hours of the Castellet
6-7-8 May 1000Km of Spa-Francorchamps
1-2-3 July 6 Hours of Imola
9-10-11 September 6 Hours of Silverstone
23-24-25 September 6 Hours of Estoril