A new award to encourage LMP1 teams to contest events in more than one sports car championship is set to be launched by Le Mans organizing club, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest.

The Intercontinental Trophy will combine events in the American Le Mans Series, the European-based LMS, and the Asian LMS. The trophy, which is set to launch next season, will encompass between six and eight races, though these have yet to be selected.

ACO general manager Remy Brouard said: "The 24 Hours will not be part of it, but the trophy will be for the major manufacturers or big teams. If there is a problem [for 2010] it'll happen in 2011."