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2012 European Le Mans Series

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The 2012 European Le Mans Series was the ninth season of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's European Le Mans Series (previously known as simply Le Mans Series). Championship titles were awarded in five categories, with the Le Mans Series shifting its categories following its separation from the FIA World Endurance Championship. LMP1 cars were dropped due to most teams entering the FIA World Endurance Championship while a new GTC category was created to allow single make grand tourer cars and FIA GT3s to compete in endurance races. However, there were no GTC cars that competed during the season.

Quick facts European Le Mans Series, Seasons ...
2012 European Le Mans Series
Seasons
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Thiriet by TDS Racing No. 46 Oreca 03, winner of the 2012 European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class

Due to the numerous issues the season was reduced to just three rounds, starting in Le Castellet, France on 1 April and ended at Braselton, Georgia, United States, on 20 October.

Schedule

Following the ELMS decision to no longer share races with the FIA World Endurance Championship (formerly the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup), the series required new races to replace the Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone races which now were part of the WEC. Circuit Paul Ricard was the only event carried over from 2011 and remained the season opener.[1] Circuit Zolder was supposed to serve as the second round of the series, but on 1 April the race was cancelled due to a lack of entrants. ELMS teams were instead invited to enter the 6 Hours of Spa WEC round.[2] Following a small number of entries at Donington, the season's two later rounds at the Brno Circuit and Autódromo Internacional do Algarve were cancelled. In place of these two rounds, an agreement was reached with the American Le Mans Series to allow ELMS competitors to participate in the Petit Le Mans for double points, with the ELMS providing transport assistance to full-season teams.[3]

More information Rnd, Race ...
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Regulation changes

The Le Mans Series made changes to its class structure for the 2012 season, eliminating one previous class while adding another. The LMP1 Le Mans Prototype category were no longer featured in LMS races due to the large amount of LMP1 factory teams which switched from the Le Mans Series to the World Endurance Championship. This move promotes the LMP2 category to the top of the class structure. To replace LMP1, a new class has been created at the bottom of the class structure, named GTC. This class allowed only three cars from various one make series to compete: The Ferrari 458 Challenge, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and the Lotus Evora GT4. Teams in GTC were not allowed more than one professional driver in their line-up.[6] Finally, the Formula Le Mans category was renamed LMP Challenge, aligning with the title utilized by the American Le Mans Series.[7]

Entry list

More information Entry List, Entrant/Team ...
Entry List[8][9]
Entrant/Team Car Engine Tyre No Drivers Rounds
LMP2
United Kingdom Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 1 United Kingdom Alex Brundle All
United Kingdom Tom Kimber-Smith
Spain Lucas Ordóñez 1–2
United Kingdom Alex Buncombe 3
Argentina Pecom Racing Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 10 Argentina Luís Pérez Companc 1–2
Germany Pierre Kaffer 1–2
Italy Gianmaria Bruni 1
France Soheil Ayari[10] 2
Switzerland Race Performance Oreca 03 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 D 11 Switzerland Jonathan Hirschi 1
Switzerland Michel Frey 1
Switzerland Ralph Meichtry[11] 1
Republic of Ireland Status GP Lola B12/80 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 D 17 United Kingdom Alexander Sims[12] 1–2
Netherlands Yelmer Buurman[12] 1
United Kingdom Dean Stirling[12] 1
France Julien Jousse[10] 2
France Maxime Jousse[10] 2
Republic of Ireland Murphy Prototypes MG-Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 18 United Kingdom Jody Firth All
United Kingdom Warren Hughes
Italy Luca Moro[11] 1
New Zealand Brendon Hartley[10] 2–3
France Sébastien Loeb Racing Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 19 France Nicolas Marroc 1–2
France Nicolas Minassian 1–2
France Stéphane Sarrazin[11] 1–2
France OAK Racing Morgan LMP2 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 D 24 France Jacques Nicolet 1–2
France Guillaume Moreau[11] 1
Austria Dominik Kraihamer[11] 1
France Matthieu Lahaye[10] 2
Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 35 Belgium Bertrand Baguette[10] 2–3
France Dimitri Enjalbert[10] 2
France Olivier Pla[10] 2–3
France Jacques Nicolet 3
United Kingdom Jota Zytek Z11SN Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 38 United Kingdom Sam Hancock 1–2
United Kingdom Simon Dolan 1–2
France Extrême Limite ARIC Norma M200P Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 D 44 France Fabien Rosier 1
France Philippe Thirion[11] 1
Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 45 France Bastien Brière 1
United Kingdom Jack Clarke[11] 1
Switzerland Sébastien Buemi 1
France Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 D 46 Switzerland Mathias Beche All
France Pierre Thiriet
France Christophe Tinseau 3
LMPC
Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing[11] Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 M 40 France Thomas Dagoneau[11] 1–2
Italy Massimo Vignali[11] 1
France Jean-Marc Merlin[11] 1
France Jean-Charles Battut[10] 2
United Kingdom John Hartshorne[10] 2
United Kingdom CURTIS Racing Technologies Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 M 42 United Kingdom Phil Keen 1
United Kingdom John Hartshorne 1
United Kingdom Alex Kapadia[13] 1
LM GTE Pro
Switzerland Kessel Racing[11] Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 D 61 Poland Michał Broniszewski[11] 1
Austria Philipp Peter[11] 1
United Kingdom JMW Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 D 66 United Kingdom James Walker 1
United Kingdom Jonny Cocker[11] 1–2
Denmark Allan Simonsen 2
Monaco JMB Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 M 83 Brazil Jaime Melo 1
Italy Marco Frezza 1
LM GTE Am
Italy AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 M 60 Italy Piergiuseppe Perazzini All
Italy Marco Cioci
Republic of Ireland Matt Griffin[11]
France IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche M97/74 4.0 L Flat-6 M 67 France Anthony Pons All
France Nicolas Armindo
France Raymond Narac
United Kingdom Gulf Racing Aston Martin Vantage GTE Aston Martin AM05 4.5 L V8 D 69 United Kingdom Stuart Hall[11] 1
Germany Roald Goethe[11] 1
Belgium Prospeed Competition Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche M97/74 4.0 L Flat-6 M 75 Belgium Marc Goossens[11] 1
Belgium Maxime Soulet[11] 1
Monaco JMB Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 M 99 France Alain Ferté 1
France Philippe Illiano 1
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Season results

More information Rnd., Circuit ...
Rnd. Circuit LMP2 Winning Team LMPC Winning Team GTE Pro Winning Team GTE Am Winning Team Results
LMP2 Winning Drivers LMPC Winning Drivers GTE Pro Winning Drivers GTE Am Winning Drivers
1 Paul Ricard France No. 46 Thiriet by TDS Racing United Kingdom No. 42 CURTIS Racing Technologies United Kingdom No. 66 JMW Motorsport Belgium No. 75 Prospeed Competition Results
Switzerland Mathias Beche
France Pierre Thiriet
United Kingdom John Hartshorne
United Kingdom Alex Kapadia
United Kingdom Phil Keen
United Kingdom James Walker
United Kingdom Jonny Cocker
Belgium Marc Goossens
Belgium Maxime Soulet
2 Donington France No. 35 OAK Racing Belgium No. 40 Boutsen Ginion Racing United Kingdom No. 66 JMW Motorsport France No. 67 IMSA Performance Matmut Results
France Olivier Pla
France Dimitri Enjalbert
Belgium Bertrand Baguette
France Thomas Dagoneau
France Jean-Charles Battut
United Kingdom John Hartshorne
United Kingdom Jonny Cocker
Denmark Allan Simonsen
France Nicolas Armindo
France Raymond Narac
France Anthony Pons
3 Road Atlanta France No. 46 Thiriet by TDS Racing Did Not Participate Did Not Participate France No. 67 IMSA Performance Matmut Results
Switzerland Mathias Beche
France Pierre Thiriet
France Christophe Tinseau
France Nicolas Armindo
France Raymond Narac
France Anthony Pons
Source:[14]
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Championship Standings

Points are awarded to cars that finish in tenth place or higher, with unclassified entries failing to complete 70% of the race distance or entries failing to reach the finish not earning championship points. One bonus point is awarded for winning pole position (denoted by bold). Double points will be awarded at Petit Le Mans.[3]

More information Points System, Position ...
Points System
Position Pole Position
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
25 18 15 12 10 8 6 4 2 1 1
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Teams Championships

The top two finishers in the LMP2, GTE Pro, and GTE Am championships earned automatic entry to the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans.[15]

LMP2 Standings

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Chassis Engine LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 France Thiriet by TDS Racing Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 1 2 3 94
2 France OAK Racing Morgan LMP2 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8
Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8
6 1 4 71
3 United Kingdom Greaves Motorsport Zytek Z11SN Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 4 7 5 48
4 France Sébastien Loeb Racing Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 2 4 30
5 Argentina Pecom Racing Oreca 03 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 7 5 16
6 Republic of Ireland Status GP Lola B12/80 Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 3 Ret 15
7 Republic of Ireland Murphy Prototypes MG-Oreca 03 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 Ret 3 Ret 15
8 Switzerland Race Performance Oreca 03 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 5 10
9 France Extrême Limite ARIC Norma M200P Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 8 4
10 United Kingdom JOTA Zytek Z11SN Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 9 Ret 2
– Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Oreca 03 Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 Ret 0
Sources:[16][17]
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LMPC Standings

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Chassis Engine LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 Ret 1 27
2 United Kingdom Curtis Racing Technologies Oreca FLM09 Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 1 25
Sources:[16][17]
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LM GTE Pro Standings

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Chassis Engine LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 United Kingdom JMW Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 1 1 51
2 Monaco JMB Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 2 19
Sources:[16][17]
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LM GTE Am Standings

IMSA Performance took honors in the GTE Am class
More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Chassis Engine LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 France IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche M97/74 4.0 L Flat-6 2 1 1 94
2 Italy AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 Ferrari F136 4.5 L V8 3 2 Ret 34
3 Belgium Prospeed Competition Porsche 997 GT3-RSR Porsche M97/74 4.0 L Flat-6 1 26
Sources:[16][17]
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Drivers Championships

LMP2 Standings

More information Pos, Driver ...
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LMPC Standings

More information Pos, Driver ...
Pos Driver Team LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 United Kingdom John Hartshorne United Kingdom Curtis Racing Technologies
Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing
1 1 51
2 France Thomas Dagoneau Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Ret 1 27
3 France Jean-Charles Battut Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing 1 26
4 United Kingdom Alex Kapadia United Kingdom Curtis Racing Technologies 1 25
United Kingdom Phil Keen United Kingdom Curtis Racing Technologies 1
5 France Jean-Marc Merlin Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Ret 1
Italy Massimo Vignali Belgium Boutsen Ginion Racing Ret
Sources:[16][17]
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LM GTE Pro Standings

More information Pos, Driver ...
Pos Driver Team LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 United Kingdom Jonny Cocker United Kingdom JMW Motorsport 1 1 51
2 United Kingdom James Walker United Kingdom JMW Motorsport 1 WD 26
3 Denmark Allan Simonsen United Kingdom JMW Motorsport 1 25
4 Brazil Jaime Melo Monaco JMB Racing 2 19
Italy Marco Frezza Monaco JMB Racing 2
Sources:[16][17]
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LM GTE Am Standings

Manufacturers Cups

LMP2 Standings

More information Pos, Constructor ...
Pos Constructor LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 Oreca-Nissan 44 33 50 127
2 Morgan-Nissan 25 37 62
3 Zytek-Nissan 14 6 30 50
4 Morgan-Judd 8 9 17
5 Lola-Judd 15 0 15
6 Oreca-Judd 10 10
7 Norma-Judd 4 4
Source:[18]
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LM GTE Standings

More information Pos, Constructor ...
Pos Constructor LEC
France
DON
United Kingdom
ATL
United States
Total
1 Porsche 27 18 51 96
2 Ferrari 44 41 0 85
– Aston Martin 0 0
Source:[18]
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References

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