LMP3 2017 – Strength in Numbers

In 2016 the LMP3 class was the largest of the three categories in the ELMS, with at least eighteen cars taking part in each of the six races last.  LMP3 teams were also able to compete on the full La Sarthe circuit at Le Mans in 2016 when they joined the GT3 teams for a special one hour Road to Le Mans event on Saturday morning before the running of the world renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans.

As the new season approaches no significant changes have been made to the 2017 LMP3 regulations.  This season the LMP3 category will once again form part of the European Le Mans Series, joining LMP2 and LMGTE on the grid.

In addition LMP3 cars will be eligible to compete in the Michelin Le Mans Cup (LMC) alongside the GT3 class at five of the six ELMS events and also in the 2017 Road to Le Mans race.

Costs are strictly controlled with teams being able to choose a chassis from six different manufacturers:  Adess, Dome, Ginetta, Onroak (Ligier), Norma and Riley. The 420bhp V8 engine is supplied by Nissan, which must be used by all the teams, fitted to a 6 speed X-Trac gearbox.

Tyre development and costs are also controlled with Michelin providing only one specification of tyres for a dry track (slicks) and 1 specification of wet-weather tyres are allowed for all the model of cars for the complete season.   For each car and for each event, a maximum of three sets of tyres of slicks are authorised, while wet tyres are unlimited.

To emphasise the driver development of the category, crews must include at least one bronze driver, gold drivers are only allowed in crews of three drivers and platinum drivers are not permitted to compete in LMP3.   Driving times are also controlled with gold drivers only allowed to drive for 60-minutes during a 4-hour ELMS race giving more time at the wheel for the silver and bronze members of the crew.

LMP3 Definition

"LE MANS" PROTOTYPE ("LM" P3) is a racing closed car with no production minimum required. The maximum sale price of the chassis is 206,000€.

The ELMS will get underway at Silverstone on Saturday 15 April 2017, Round 1 of the 2017 European Le Mans Series, with teams and drivers participating at The Prologue, the official pre season test, at Monza on March 28/29.