Prototype Cup Germany: New series for Le Mans prototypes

• Series for LMP3 racing cars to launch in 2022
• A total of four races are planned for the inaugural season

Munich. ADAC, in cooperation with Dutch promoter Creventic, are bringing a new series for Le Mans prototypes to Germany next year. In the Prototype Cup Germany, LMP3 racing cars will contest sprint races lasting around an hour as of 2022. The booming LMP3 class is the entry-level class in the rapidly growing Le Mans prototype sector, which culminates in the prototype top class Hypercar, to which eight automobile manufacturers, including Audi, Porsche and BMW, have already committed. The ADAC has secured long-term exclusive rights to the LMP3 class for Germany from rights holder Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the promoter of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A total of four races in Belgium and Germany are planned for the inaugural season, fans will be able to follow the races in full via a livestream on adac.de/motorsport.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: Endurance comprises several classes, among which LMP3 holds a special place. Through its success in the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup, as well as in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, it is an attractive proposition to foreign promoters. We are delighted by this licensing agreement with ADAC as it will help many teams and drivers make a long-term commitment to prototype racing.

Dr. Gerd Ennser, ADAC Sports President: “Interest in Le Mans prototypes has been growing steadily for many years, among drivers, teams and manufacturers. Which is why we secured the exclusive rights to the LMP3 class, to establish the Le Mans prototypes in Germany in collaboration with our partner Creventic. With the Prototype Cup Germany, we will be offering drivers an exciting prospect and teams an interesting field of activity, including the attractive, strong media platform of the German GT championship.”

The Prototype Cup Germany is a national addition to the Michelin Le Mans Cup held across Europe; there won’t be any clashes on the calendars of the two series. Alongside the LMP3 prototypes, CN sports cars will also be allowed to contest the Prototype Cup Germany next year. With two races each lasting around an hour and with a change of driver, the Prototype Cup Germany is geared towards the successful sporting format of the German GT championship. Four races are planned for the first season. The season will get underway from 22 to 24 April as part of the 12h of Spa-Francorchamps, a race in Creventic’s 24h series; the second race will be held at the Nürburgring from 15 to 17 July, as part of the ADAC Truck Grand Prix. For the third race weekend, the sports cars will head to the Lausitzring for the Family & Friends Festival of the German GT championship from 19 to 21 August, with the final also being held on the professional platform of the German GT championship, in Hockenheim from 21 to 23 October.

The LMP3 class is the entry-level class for Le Mans prototypes and was established by ACO in 2015. Cars are available from the four licenced manufacturers Adess, Duqueine, Ginetta and Ligier. The prototypes weighing in at just 950 kg are powered by standardised V8 engines from Nissan, with 455 PS. Michelin is the exclusive tyre partner of the Prototype Cup Germany. The LMP3 sports cars are an excellent springboard into the LMP2 class or the top class for sports cars, the Le Mans Hypercars and LMDh racing cars.

2022 calendar (subject to change)

22. – 24. April 2022	Spa-Francorchamps (B), 24h Series
15. – 17. July 2022	Nürburgring, ADAC Truck-Grand-Prix
19. – 21. August 2022	DEKRA Lausitzring, Family & Friends Festival
21. – 23. October 2022	Hockenheimring, ADAC GT Masters