Yet another novelty for this seventh Le Mans Series season. Indeed, in addition to the LMP1, LMP2, LMGT1 and LMGT2 cars entered for the season or ’race by race’ Formula Le Mans will also take the start of the 1000 KM races.
Pierre Fillon, Vice-president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and President of Formula Le Mans declared: “The arrival of FLM in Le Mans Series is a new step in the development of endurance racing activities proposed by the ACO. Go-karting, prototype and FLM driving schools are the three levels towards the star category: endurance racing.
"The integration of FLM races in the Le Mans Series meetings will allow young drivers, at a reasonable price at this level of competition, to adapt quickly to the real conditions of great classic endurance races while showing their talent to the teams present. This integration can also be an excellent opportunity for young teams wanting to come to endurance racing, or big teams wanting to form a junior team.”
All the cars are technically identical: a carbon body, a weight of approximately 900 kilos, a V8/ 6200cc engine on GM base for a power of 430BHP allowing the young drivers to show their talent.
This category began in 2009, organised by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, who entrusted the promotion and coordination to Oreca, and will participate in testing and races just like the other categories, but will be subjected to a distinct classification.
Even if the number of Formula Le Mans entered in each leg of the season has not yet been clarified, the organisers remain optimistic there will be a strong entry. Testing gets underway at Paul Richard on March 7th.