ELMS Championship standings for teams and drivers before Hungary

In LMP2, the top class of the series, Thiriet by TDS Racing holds a significant advantage after winning the Red Bull Ring round and the team hopes to increase that further in Hungary. With 65 points in the overall classification, it is ahead of another French team, Signatech Alpine, by 17 points. Race Performance and Jota Sport are respectively in 3rd and 4th positions with a total of 40 points each.

Pierre Thiriet is leading the LMP2 Drivers' standings with 65 points ahead of his teammate Mathias Beche who has 50. Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues (Signatech Alpine) share third place overall with 48 points ahead of Oliver Turvey and Simon Dolan (4th for Jota Sport) who, along with Michel Frey and Patric Niederhauser (5th Race Performance) all have 40 points on the scoreboard.  Franck Mailleux and Natacha Gachnang (Morand Racing) are in 6th position with 30 points each.

In LMPC, races may come and go but the No.49 Team Endurance Challenge FLM09 is firmly ensconced at the head of the championship with 70 points, ahead of the No. 48 which has 55 and the No. 47 with 33 points.  A newcomer at Red Bull Ring, the No.46 entry of the Portuguese Algarve Pro Racing Team is 4th overall in the category. Gary Hirsch and Paul Loup Chatin are determined to maintain their leading position in the LMPC Drivers' standings. They both lead with 70 points, ahead of their teammates in the No.48 FLM09, Anthony Pons and Soheil Ayari, by 15 points.  Third in class is currently Alex Loan who has 33 points.

The nine teams within LMGTE will be battling with Ram Racing which has both its cars at the top of the tables. The No.52 Ferrari 458 Italia holds a significant lead over its sister No.53 entry with respectively 70 and 45 points. However, the No. 66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari is only 3 points off second place (42 points) and the No. 77 Proton Competition Porsche holds 4th place with 40 points ahead of AF Corse (36).  While Ram Racing may seem to have a hold on the top spot, anything is still possible and there's all to play for in the fight for 2nd and 3rd places as only nine points separate the four teams currently in podium contending positions.

From the LMGTE drivers' point of view, Johnny Mowlem and Matt Griffin are settled in the top spot with 70 points, 25 ahead of their teammates and rivals, Frankie Montecalvo and Gunnar Jeannette (45 points).  Andrea Bertolini and Joel Camathias are third with 42 points ahead of Christian Ried and Gianluca Roda (40 points).

In GTC, the fight promises to be a good one right to the end of the season at Paul Ricard. While the BMW Z4 of the Ecurie Ecosse team leads the category, it is only by the very small margin of one point ahead of its rival, the No. 62 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 (54 points). The No.72 Ferrari 458 of SMP Racing holds 3rd place with 50 points, ahead of its sister car. The gaps couldn't be tighter and the next two races will offer up merciless battles…

The GTC Drivers' classification definitely reflects the dynamism of the class and the battles that have been played out in this category. Andrew Smith and Ollie Millroy (Ecurie Ecosse) lead the way with 55 points, ahead of Andrea Rizzoli, Lorenzo Casé and Stefano Gai (AF Corse) by a single point. Fabio Babini, Kirill Ladygin and Viktor Shaitar are 3rd with 50 points each.

See you in three weeks for the fourth round of the 2013 ELMS on the Hungaroring, a track where overtaking is known to be difficult.  This race promises to deliver some great driving!

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