ACO Confirms Auto Invites for LM24

Photo: John Dagys

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest announced Friday the list of automatic invitations for next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Thirteen cars from 12 teams have been awarded guaranteed entries, based on their success in the American, European or Asian Le Mans Series, as well as the 90th anniversary of the twice-around-the-clock French endurance classic.

LIST OF INVITES: Click Here

Champions in the FIA World Endurance Championship, however, have not received auto invites, as full-season status in the series includes a Le Mans entry.

Audi Sport Team Joest, OAK Racing, Porsche AG Team Manthey and IMSA Performance Matmut headline the list for their class wins at Le Mans, while OAK has secured a second invite thanks to its LMP2 title in the Asian LMS.

AF Corse and Craft Racing AMR have both been awarded entries in GTE-Am for their success in the newly launched Asian championship as well.

European LMS class champions Signatech Alpine and Ram Racing have received invites, along with second place finisher in GTE Proton Competition, and the Team Endurance Challenge LMPC squad, which must be used in LMP2.

Of U.S. interest, both Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and Risi Competizione were selected by IMSA for its two at-large entries, to compete in the LMP2 and GTE-Pro classes, respectively.

While no official announcements have been made from either squad, it’s understood IMSA’s selection process is influenced by the teams’ interest in participation.

Two-time ALMS P1 champions Pickett announced this week that it will campaign an Oreca 03 Nissan in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship next year, with Risi also back with its Ferrari 458 Italia in GTLM.

Teams have until January to confirm their auto invites. General entry requests close on Jan. 30, with the complete list set to be announced on Feb. 13.

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6 Comments

1. 

   Ben

   December 20, 2013 at 10:51 am

   Pickett’s team definitely deserves to go to Le Mans. I think they need to work on their record for these long distance races

   Reply
   • 

     MrBloodmuffins

     December 21, 2013 at 6:06 pm

     Not to mention that it gives me a domestic team to root for in the prototype class.

     Reply
2. 

   Marc

   December 20, 2013 at 1:05 pm

   Yeah, MMPR seems snake bitten by the long endurance races, besides their P2 win with their RS Spyder at Sebring something seems to always get them in the longer races. I still feel for them for Sebring 2012 when the fuel valve/filler cap fell off the car after 11 hours and with a real chance to be on the overall podium.

   The questions are if MMPR does Le Mans:
   - will they use their Oreca 03? Or perhaps the deal with Oreca will allow them to lease another car for Le Mans so they won’t have to ship their car back and forth?
   - who will their AM driver be? To bad Greg retired! DHH?
   - what if/any conflicts will there be with TUSCC since only GTLM cars/teams are really only given a Le Mans break?

   Reply
   • 

     Bakkster

     December 20, 2013 at 3:28 pm

     Only conflict is with test day and Detroit. I’m betting if it comes through they lease a car.

     Reply
3. 

   NaBUru38

   December 20, 2013 at 6:06 pm

   Does that mean that Porsche and AF Course have three berths in GTE-Pro for the 24? That would be outstanding!

   Reply
   • 

     NaBUru38

     December 20, 2013 at 6:07 pm

     Sorry. It’s Risi, not AF Course. So let’s put it as three Ferrari semi-works teams.

     Reply