We now know the outcome of the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2020 European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup – which means that we also know the names of the first few teams invited to compete in the 2021 running of the French endurance classic. Five teams are already pencilled in on the starting grid:

• United Autosports: winner of the LMP2 class at the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, invited to compete in LMP2;
• TF Sport: LMGTE Am class winner at the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, invited to defend the LMGTE Am title;
• United Autosports: LMP2 champions in the 2020 ELMS, invited to compete in LMP2;
• Proton Competition: LMGTE champions in the 2020 ELMS, invited to compete in the LMGTE Am class;
• Kessel Racing: LMGTE runners-up in the 2020 ELMS, invited to compete the LMGTE Am class;
• Iron Lynx: winners of the GT3 class in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, invited to compete in the LMGTE Am class.

The Asian Le Mans Series 2021 season will kick off next February with more invitations to the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans up for grabs, based on the number of cars entered in each class:

LMP2 and LMP2 Am combined:

Field of 6 to 11: an invitation for the class winner
Field of 12 to 17: an invitation for the class winner and the runner-up
Field of 18 to 22: an invitation for the class winner and second and third places.

In LMP3, an invitation is awarded to the class winner.

GT:

Field of 4 to 7: an invitation for the class winner
Field of 8 to 11: an invitation for the class winner and the runner-up
Field of 12 to 15: an invitation for the class winner and second and third places.

Finally, invitations are issued to the two drivers who pick up the Jim Trueman Award and the Bob Akin Award in the IMSA Weather Tech SportsCar Championship.

More to come soon on the teams lined up for an entry in the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans. Watch this space!