Le Mans Intercontinental Cup to run next year for entrants in the top endurance category, LMP1. The Automobile Club de l'Ouest has announced that it will launch the 'Le Mans Intercontinental Cup' in 2010. A statement from ACO read: "During its press conference at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours in June, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest confirmed its intention to link the various Le Mans Series and so in 2010, it will launch a cup reserved for entrants in the top endurance category, LMP1. "This cup will be held on three continents in three races that are already part of the different series run under the Le Mans label. "This American/European/Asian triple crown will kick off at Silverstone (13th September) in the Le Mans Series. The second round will be the Petit Le Mans (2nd October) in the American Le Mans Series, and the final one will take place on the Asian continent in an Asian Le Mans Series event in November. "A teams'/manufacturers' classification for the '2010 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup' will be established on the basis of the overall results of these races." The '2010 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup' prefigures the creation of a world trophy for the 2011 season, which will be run in compliance with the new ACO regulations: it will consist of six races minimum. A more detailed presentation of the world trophy will be made before the end of March next year.
This is going to be pretty cool I think. At least it's made Audi come out again to play! It will be interesting to see the reaction of other manufacturers over the next couple of months. Gary
If this turns to be successful, you can expect the FIA to take it under its wing and call it a World Sportscar Championship in future! Just like the rift between the Champcar and IRL finally solved itself, the long divorce between the ACO and the FIA is maybe coming to an end.
