A new regional endurance racing platform for LMP3 and GT3 competitors has been announced at the ACO Press Conference during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The new championship will be called the Asian Le Mans Cup and will run on the same weekends as the Asian Le Mans Series. It will give LMP3 teams and drivers a dedicated home in Asia, while also opening the grid to GT3 machinery.
The move follows the planned arrival of Hypercar in the Asian Le Mans Series for the 2026/27 season. With the main championship set to feature Hypercar, LMP2 and GT classes, organisers have created a separate series to preserve a clear pathway for LMP3 competitors.
New series follows Michelin Le Mans Cup model
The Asian Le Mans Cup will take inspiration from the Michelin Le Mans Cup, which has proved successful in Europe as a development platform for teams and drivers.
By adopting a similar structure in Asia, organisers aim to create an accessible first step on the endurance racing ladder. The new championship will allow emerging talent to gain experience during Asian Le Mans Series weekends while competing in machinery suited to development and customer racing.
The format also gives LMP3 teams continuity. Instead of losing a place within the Asian Le Mans Series structure after Hypercar joins the main grid, they will compete in a dedicated series with its own identity.
Hypercar arrival reshapes Asian Le Mans structure
The creation of the Asian Le Mans Cup directly reflects the changing shape of the Asian Le Mans Series.
From 2026/27, Hypercar will join the championship, increasing the level of the series and bringing it closer to the top of the endurance racing pyramid. As a result, the main Asian Le Mans Series class structure will comprise Hypercar, LMP2 and GT.
That shift left organisers needing a new solution for LMP3. The Asian Le Mans Cup provides that solution, while still keeping LMP3 teams within the same event environment as the broader Asian Le Mans Series paddock.
LMP3 and GT3 classes confirmed
The Asian Le Mans Cup will feature three classes: LMP3, LMP3 Pro/Am and GT3.
The LMP3 class will be reserved for gold and silver drivers. Meanwhile, LMP3 Pro/Am and GT3 entries must include at least one bronze-rated driver in the line-up.
Platinum drivers will not be eligible to compete in the Asian Le Mans Cup. That restriction should help keep the championship focused on development, accessibility and balanced competition rather than fully professional line-ups.
GT3 cars will also be eligible for the new championship while remaining eligible to race in the Asian Le Mans Series. Therefore, GT teams will have an additional option within the regional endurance structure.
Lequien welcomes new Asian endurance platform
ALMEM and LMEM CEO Frédéric Lequien said the new series will give LMP3 competitors a strong future in Asia while supporting the region’s endurance racing ladder.
“We are pleased to announce the creation of a new Asian endurance series for LMP3 and GT3 cars modelled on the highly successful Michelin Le Mans Cup. With the arrival of Hypercar in the Asian Le Mans Series it has been decided to give the LMP3 competitors the opportunity to race on the same weekends as the ALMS in a separate series, with GT3 cars also being eligible to race in the new Asian Le Mans Cup as well as in the ALMS.
“We are confident that the Asian Le Mans Cup will attract more teams and drivers to compete, which will become the first step on the endurance racing ladder with the ultimate goal of competing in the FIA WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
His comments underline the championship’s intended role. Rather than simply replacing LMP3’s place in the Asian Le Mans Series, the new Cup aims to widen participation and build a clearer route towards international endurance racing.
Asian Le Mans Cup strengthens regional pathway
The Asian Le Mans Cup gives organisers a way to expand the Asian endurance racing ecosystem without abandoning the developmental value of LMP3.
With Hypercar, LMP2 and GT set to define the Asian Le Mans Series from 2026/27, the new Cup will provide a more focused environment for LMP3 and GT3 competitors. It will also allow teams to race on major weekends, gain visibility and build experience within the wider Le Mans family.
As a result, the Asian Le Mans Cup should become an important stepping stone for drivers and teams aiming eventually for FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
