The European Le Mans Series, which is racing in association with the ALMS at Petit Le Mans this weekend, will have a new style of race weekend in 2013 with five high profile meetings in the UK, Italy, Austria, Hungary and France. Each of the five race meetings will be held over two days, with practice on Friday and qualifying a 3-hour race on Saturday, and will be held alongside another high profile championship or series.
The season will start at Silverstone in the U.K. on April 13, joining the season opener for the FIA World Endurance Championship and making the event a Super Endurance weekend. On May 18, the ELMS will race at Imola in Italy with FFSA GT Tour.
Then there is a two-month break to allow some of the teams to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 22/23) before the ELMS resumes at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on July 20 for the first of three events with the World Series by Renault. The next event is just across the border in Hungary with a three-hour race on the Hungaroring near Budapest on Sept. 14. The 2013 ELMS will conclude in the south of France at Paul Ricard on Sept. 28.
“The ACO are totally involved in the organization of this European championship, which is an important part of endurance racing worldwide,” said Pierre Fillon, president of the ACO. “It is for the ACO to guarantee the best possible future for this series, considered to be one of the mainstays of our discipline, and this will be done by the organisation from next season through Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM). The ACO will provide eligible ELMS teams entrance for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and also a special invitation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Test day next June.”
There will be classes for LMP2, LMPC, LMGTE Pro, LMGTE Am and GTC.
2013 European Le Mans Series - Provisional Calendar
April 12-13 Silverstone GBR with FIA WEC
May 17-18 Imola ITA with FFSA GT Tour
July 19-20 Red Bull Ring AUT with World Series by Renault
September 13-14 Hungaroring HUN with World Series by Renault
September 27-28 Paul Ricard FRA with World Series by Renault