Introduced in 2015, LMP3 has already reached its target. The feeder series was intended to ease drivers along the path to the top, brilliantly illustrated by Thomas Laurent who moved from LMP3 in 2016 to LMP1 this year. Although there will be a few changes, the main objective for the next phase (2020-2024) remains to act as a springboard to reach the pinnacle of the ACO Endurance pyramid.
Since the ACO introduced the category in 2015, over 150 LMP3 cars have been produced and compete in a dozen different series, among them the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup, Road to Le Mans, LMP3 British Cup, V de V, lMSA Prototype Challenge, Gulf 12 Hours and the FRD LMP3 Series.
The aim of the new category, ranked below LMP2 and LMP1, was to open the door to the discipline with affordable cars and enable drivers and teams to progress to gain a footing on the endurance ladder.
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “To ensure continuity, we needed to form solid foundations and build up a talent pool of new drivers with a feeder series that enables novices to take their first steps in endurance, and gain race experience without breaking the bank. LMP3 seemed an obvious solution. And it has proved to be a sound decision.”
Thomas Laurent, meanwhile, is preparing to contest this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans (16-17 June) in the premier LMP1 class. But he hasn’t forgotten where he came from: “It’s the car that launched my career. I’d just come from karting when I tested an LMP3 (belonging to David Cheng Racing) at Magny-Cours. I fell in love with it straight away. It was fantastic – all my childhood dreams come true. I felt like I was in an enormous go-kart, with aerodynamics. It was my first real racing car and I was hooked. It’s a superb training aid because it is highly sensitive and has no driver aids, so you get to learn plenty of things like threshold braking. It is also ideal for getting used to managing traffic because, in some championships, LMP3s compete alongside faster LMP2s and slower LMGTEs. We really get to learn our job.”
Laurent’s LMP3 track record includes a win in the 2016 Road to Le Mans, a support race to the 24 Hours, before he graduated to LMP2 in 2017. After clinching a class win and an overall second place at the legendary French marathon last June, he will be one of the professional drivers competing in LMP1 in the 86th 24 Hours of Le Mans. A fine example of how talented young drivers can progress up the ACO’s endurance ladder.
When LMP3 was introduced back in 2015, a precise set of specifications were submitted to the potential manufacturers. For the second generation from 2020 to 2024, selection has focused on cost control, driver-friendly operation, modernisation, guaranteed service to the teams and closer competitiveness between the various models.
Four manufacturers have been chosen: Onroak Automotive – Ligier, Duqueine Automotive – Norma, Ginetta and Adess.
The future LMP3s will be based on existing cars equipped with a kit chiefly designed to improve engine power and driver safety in the cockpit, while leaving room for some bodywork modifications.
The cost of the new car and the kit will be announced shortly. The future of LMP3 begins today. The future of endurance too.