24h Le Mans
The European Le Mans Series is approaching the final turns of the 2022 season. A bumper 41-strong field will line up for the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (23-25 September) on one of the world’s most demanding racetracks. This penultimate round could be decisive in the chase for the LMP2 and LMGTE crowns.
With a maximum of 52 points still up for grabs over the final two races, the LMP2 and LMGTE titles could be claimed in Belgium.
In keeping with the season’s previous rounds, the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps entry list offers a quality grid comprising 16 LMP2 challengers, 13 LMP3 prototypes and 12 LMGTEs.
All eyes will be on the LMP2 class. After securing their third win in Barcelona, Louis Delétraz and Ferdinand Habsburg will team up with Juan Manuel Correa in Prema Racing’s #9 Oreca 07-Gibson. The American racer is standing in for Lorenzo Colombo. Delétraz and Habsburg hold a 21-point lead in the Drivers’ championship over Panis Racing’s Job Van Uitert, Julien Canal and Nico Jamin (#65 Oreca 07-Gibson). If the Prema Racing leader pick up five points more than their Panis Racing rivals at Spa-Francorchamps, they will seal the season’s Team and Drivers’ titles.
The battle for the LMP3 crowns is once again a closely fought affair. After winning the 4 Hours of Monza with the #13 Ligier JS P320-Nissan, Inter Europol Competition has cut the gap to Cool Racing’s #17 Ligier to a mere five points.
With a 28-point advantage over their closest challengers, Christian Ried, Lorenzo Ferrari and Gianmaria Bruni head to Belgium knowing that a good performance in the Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR-19 (#77) will guarantee them the LMGTE Drivers’ and Team titles.
The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps begins at 11:30 (UTC+2) on 25 September. Last year, Team WRT won on home soil ahead of Duqueine Team and Panis Racing.
