The evolution of the Le Mans Series in the world is under way. During the ACO Press Conference two days before the start of this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, Rémy Brouard, the general manager, reminded those present that the ACO and its partners were thinking about the creation of an Intercontinental Trophy to be inaugurated in the near future (2010 or 2011). This year, the development of the Le Mans Series on 3 continents will become a reality.

In three months, 30th October – 1st November, the Asian Le Mans Series will kick off on the Okayama circuit in Japan. The timetable for this event, which coincides with the second-last round of the 2009 WTCC, is as follows: two 3-hour races , the first on Saturday and the second on Sunday. At stake is an invitation for the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours for the winners in LM P1, LM P2, LM GT1 and LM GT2, 4 categories that will be well represented in quality and number including, among other newcomers, the Aston Martin Racing Team in LM P1 whose presence has just been confirmed: it will be up against the Pescarolos, Pescarolo-Peugeot, Orecas etc.
9 Asian teams have also confirmed their entries (Tokai University in LM P1, Navi Goh in LM P2, Nova team and JLOC in GT1, O’young racing team, Hong Kong Racing, Team Daishin, Hankook and KTR in GT2 who will take on the best European teams in their categories on home turf!

However, the Shanghai event has had to be cancelled because of economic circumstances very unfavourable to its running on the weekend of 7th – 8th November.

The ACO insists on reaffirming its stated intention to enable Asia to benefit from the magic label of Le Mans style endurance races in the context of the future Intercontinental Trophy, mentioned above, which will consist of several important races that already exist in the world.

Source : ACO