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24 Hours of Le Mans

The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours invitations

Taking into account the results of the 2011 Le Mans 24 Hours as well as the Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series Championships, seventeen teams have been given automatic invitations to take part in qualifying for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours.

As laid down in the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s sporting regulations, entrants can obtain an invitation for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours due to their results in the events and series agreed by the ACO in keeping with the automatic selection process. Seventeen teams have benefitted from this system, which represents the possible entry of 23 cars maximum out of the 55 places available at the start of the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours.

The following teams have won these much sought-after invitations.

One invitation
Audi Sport Team Joest: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LM P1 category. LM P1 category invitation.
Larbre Compétition: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LM GTE AM category. LM GTE Am category invitation.
Rebellion Racing: victory in the Le Mans Series LM P1 category. Invitation in the LM P1 category.
Strakka Racing: second Le Mans Series LM P2. Invitation in the LM P2 category.
JMW Motorsport: second Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro. Invitation in the LM GTE Pro category.
IMSA Performance Matmut: victory in the Le Mans Series LM GTE Am. Invitation in the LM GTE Am category.
Pegasus Racing: victory in the Le Mans Series in FLM. Invitation in the LM P2 category.
Muscle Milk Aston Martin Racing: second American Le Mans Series LM P1. Invitation in the LM P1 category.
Peugeot Sport Total: victory in Petit Le Mans LM P1 category. LM P1 category invitation.
Level 5 Motorsports: victory in Petit Le Mans LM P2 category. LM P2 category invitation.
Krohn Racing: victory in Petit Le Mans LM GTE Am category. LM GTE Am category invitation.

Two invitations
Greaves Motorsport: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours and victory in the Le Mans Series LM P2. Two invitations in the LM P2 category.
Pescarolo Team: second in the Le Mans Series LM P1 and victory in the Le Mans Series Michelin Green X Challenge LM P*. Two invitations in the LM P1 category.
Corvette Racing: victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in the LM GTE Pro category and second place in the American Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro category. Two invitations in the LM GTE Pro category.
Dyson Racing: victory in the American Le Mans Series LM P1 and victory in the American Le Mans Series LM P Michelin Green X Challenge. Two invitations in the LM P1 category.
BMW Team RLL: victory in the American Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro and victory in the American Le Mans Series LM GTE Michelin Green X Challenge. Two invitations in the LM GTE Pro category.

Four invitations
AF Corse: victory in the Le Mans Series LM GTE Pro, in Petit Le Mans LM GTE Pro category, second Le Mans Series LM GTE Am and victory in the Le Mans Series LM GT Michelin Green X Challenge. Three invitations in the LM GTE Pro category, one in the LM GTE Am category.
Please note that an entrant cannot have more than two entries so AF Corse will have to choose between the four awarded thanks to its results in 2011.

To validate these invitations the teams in question must enter for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours, and also enter for at least one of the following championships in 2012: Le Mans Series and the American Le Mans Series.

Please note that all teams entered in the FIA World Endurance Championship are automatically qualified for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Entries open and publication of the supplementary regulations on 19th December 2011.
Entries close on 18th January 2012.

The full list of entries for the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship will be published on 2nd February 2012.

Discussion

7 comments for “The 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours invitations”

  1. Very Interesting. Im particularly interested in seeing if Pescarolo takes up the second entry in 2012. They may compete in the Le Mans Series with a P2 chassis as I dont see Henri finding a WEC budget to compete for seventh place…

    I also wonder if AF Corse will use all four entries, three in GT Pro will help them enormously, even if it is just to pick up some extra revenue by renting out their entry to someone like Michael Waltrip Racing again.

    I’d also love to see Dyson have a go but I dont see it on the cards…

    Posted by William Mound | November 24, 2011, 21:18
  2. AF Corse can’t run 4 cars – they are only allowed to run 2 cars. So they either have to go for two Pro cars or one Pro and one Am car.

    Posted by Marcel ten Caat | November 24, 2011, 23:32
  3. For AF Corse, I assume 2 Pro and 1 Am, especially if Risi doesnt make the trip again (2 cars so Ferrari can have all of its factory drivers in the race) and then the AM car for maybe Marco Cioci as the pro and 2 AM drivers as they did this past year.

    For Dyson, I believe the only way they will go is if Oryx brings up the cash.

    Posted by Dan | November 24, 2011, 23:49
  4. @Marcel: they ran 3 cars this year…

    Posted by Dan | November 24, 2011, 23:49
  5. Yeah, Isn’t that rule only per class since OAK had 2 P1s and 2 P2s for a few races (when they were all available). Its a stupid rule anyway. Its not like anyone seriously believes the third Peugeot and Audis are run by a completely different team. Team Peugeot Total and Peugeot Sport Total are the same team, everyone knows it, and they should be able to run under the same name!

    Posted by SchellZ | November 25, 2011, 4:29
  6. If a team can only get 2 entries they should only get 2 automatic entries under that banner.

    I guess AF Corse could have used their “Advanced engineering” name for some of the races they entered last year. But they know the ACO wants them around, so no sweat.

    When you represent Ferrari, there are perks you’re allowed to have.

    Posted by Bamba | November 26, 2011, 8:56
  7. Terrific, hope to see DYSON Racing at LeMans after another terrific run at Sebring with Jay P.Cochran once more co-driving.

    Posted by TIDE ferrari racing,tom davis | November 26, 2011, 18:58

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