The Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup will be launched in Europe next season running on the European Le Mans Series calendar alongside ELMS, Formula Renault 2.0 and Renault Sport Trophy RS01.

The Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup will race on five ELMS rounds : Imola, Red Bull Ring, Le Castellet, Spa and Estoril. A sixth round will place at Le Mans in June as the opening race of the weekend at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“This new series is a logical step as part of the scheme adopted by the ACO for the development of endurance,” Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO, said.

“In addition to the WEC on the world stage, or the ELMS at European level, and the Asian Le Mans Series in Asia, with this new series the ACO adds another piece to its portfolio of competitions and strengthens its position as promoter of Championships and Endurance races.

“It will be for the best teams and drivers in GT3, a true gateway to access the GTE world and therefore to have the opportunity to join the family of the 24 hours of Le Mans. The ACO also welcomes the strong involvement of Michelin in this new series, strengthening further the links between the world-renowned French manufacturer and Le Mans.”

In order to optimise the sporting programme of these GT3 cars, an agreement has been reached with the French FFSA GT Tour promotor with endurance staying with ELMS and sprint with GT Tour. There will be 2-hour endurance races at each of the ELMS meetings and 1-hour sprint races on the GT Tour meetings.

The calendars of the two series have no clash in dates, which means the GT3 Teams will be able to enter both competitions, keeping the same car number and the same tyre manufacturer, due to the fact that Michelin will be the title sponsor of the new ACO series.

In each 2-driver crew in the new endurance race series, a bronze category driver will be mandatory for each line-up.

“Michelin has invested significantly in the development of its endurance racing tyre range over the past several seasons,” Pascal Couasnon, Director, Michelin Motorsport said.

“It consequently seemed natural to share this expertise with the GT3 teams and, indirectly, with the manufacturers of GT3 cars. Through our involvement in the Le Mans 24 Hours and in the championships the Automobile Club de l’Ouest promotes, we already have close ties with the ACO, so it was a perfectly logical step to extend our partnership and thereby accompany the spectacular growth endurance racing has enjoyed in recent years.”