How many competitors will be invited to the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024?

With the rise of the Hypercar category and the arrival of LM GT3 at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, the places for the 92nd edition will be hotly contested. In addition to the 36 to 38 WEC cars, there will be the 15 LMP2s (as yet unannounced) and the teams invited as a result of the current season. A total of 11 teams will have a ticket for the French race ahead of the meeting of the Selection Committee, which will draw up the entry list at the end of the Asian Le Mans Series.  Invitations will be issued to :

EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES

• 1st and 2nd LMP2 (2 invitations in LMP2)
• 1st LMP2 Pro-Am (1 invitation in LMP2)
• 1st GTE (1 invitation in GT3)1
• st LMP3 (1 invitation in LMP2)

ASIAN LE MANS SERIES

• 1st LMP2 Pro-Am (1 invitation in LMP2)
• 1st GT (1 invitation in GT3)

IMSA

• 1 invitation at the discretion of IMSA in Hypercar
• Bob Akin Award (1 invitation in GT3)
• Jim Trueman Award (1 invitation in LMP2)

GT WORLD CHALLENGE EUROPE

• 1st Bronze Cup over the whole of the Endurance + Sprint championship (1 invitation in GT3)

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Each invitation can only be granted if the car concerned is entered in 2024 in the ELMS, IMSA or Asian Le Mans Series.

• Invitations can only be awarded if the competitor has taken part in all the events in his championship.

• A competitor may not accumulate more than 2 invitations, all categories combined.

• The competitor's legal and financial situation must not contravene the direct or indirect interests of the ACO.

• The 24H du Mans Selection Committee reserves the right to modify this list or to refuse an invitation if exceptional circumstances so dictate.

• Invitations are not transferable to another competitor.

• Any unused invitation will be cancelled

CHANGES FROM 2022/2023

• Invitations to the European Le Mans Series no longer depend on the number of competitors entered in each category. In any case, there will be two in LMP2 and one in GTE (three in 2022/2023).

• An invitation to the ELMS champion team in the LMP2 Pro-Am class

• No more invitations for Michelin Le Mans Cup competitors

• The Asian Le Mans Series champion LMP3 team will receive an automatic invitation to the Road to Le Mans.

CONCLUSION - The Selection Committee, which will meet in the wake of the Asian Le Mans Series season, will have to decide on the remaining invitations. On paper, 36 WEC cars + 15 LMP2s + 11 invitations = 62, which is the number of cars on the starting grid. This very simple calculation clearly needs to be put into perspective, as it's a safe bet that the LMP2 invitees will be among the 15 expected on the grid. This leaves very few places available if we also take into account the manufacturers who would like to enter an additional car at the Sarthe.