ASIAN LE MANS SERIES TO MOVE TO EUROPE FOR THE 2026/27 SEASON
The 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series is set to be held entirely in Europe, turning the championship into a winter endurance series despite keeping its Asian name. The change comes after the original plans for races in the Middle East and Asia were affected by the ongoing security situation in the region. Series boss Frédéric Lequien had previously confirmed that Europe would be the preferred solution if the Middle Eastern races could not go ahead.
The new season is expected to begin at Circuit Paul Ricard in France in November, before the championship moves to Jerez in Spain and Portimão in Portugal for a double-header in February 2027. The final calendar has been shaped around the need to keep the series in southern Europe during the winter period.
The original plan was different. The Asian Le Mans Series had been expected to continue using the Middle East as its main winter base, with double-header events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi before a return to Sepang in Malaysia. However, the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East created serious problems for teams and organisers. Lequien also explained that keeping Sepang on the calendar without the Middle Eastern races would create additional costs for competitors.
The organisers also considered alternatives outside Europe. Australia was one of the options, with The Bend Motorsport Park and Sydney Motorsport Park reportedly discussed as possible replacement venues for the cancelled Middle Eastern events. The European solution was ultimately considered more practical for teams already competing in other ACO endurance championships.
The biggest sporting change for 2026/27 will be the introduction of the Hypercar class. For the first time, cars built to the LMH and LMDh regulations will be allowed to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series. The category will use Pro-Am regulations, meaning every Hypercar line-up must include at least one Bronze-rated driver.
The ACO originally announced the Hypercar project in 2025 as a way of giving private teams the chance to run these cars outside the FIA World Endurance Championship. The idea is to create a lower-cost environment where teams can gain experience with Hypercar machinery before potentially moving towards the highest level of endurance racing.
The first Hypercar entries are already starting to take shape. A Ferrari 499P and two wingless Peugeot 9X8s have been linked to the championship, while an Isotta Fraschini Tipo 6-C and other potential projects have also been discussed. The number of cars is still not final, but organisers have previously spoken about a target of several Hypercars for the first season.
The arrival of Hypercar will also change the structure of the championship. LMP2 will remain part of the Asian Le Mans Series, while LMP3 has been moved into a new competition called the Asian Le Mans Cup. The new series will run alongside the Asian Le Mans Series and will feature LMP3 and GT3 machinery.
The Asian Le Mans Cup has been created to give LMP3 and GT3 teams a place to race in Asia while the main Asian Le Mans Series focuses on Hypercar and LMP2. Its structure is based on the Michelin Le Mans Cup in Europe and is intended to provide another step for teams and drivers looking to progress towards higher levels of endurance racing.
The European move could therefore create an unusual situation for teams already competing in the European Le Mans Series. Paul Ricard and Portimão are already regular ELMS venues, while the European endurance calendar gives many teams the chance to keep their cars and equipment in Europe rather than shipping them between continents during the winter.
Despite the changes, the Asian Le Mans Series remains part of the ACO’s pathway towards the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The regulations already provide Le Mans entry opportunities for the leading LMP2 and GT3 competitors, and the new Hypercar class gives private teams another possible route into top-level prototype racing. The 2026/27 season will therefore be an important test of whether the series can establish itself as a viable Pro-Am championship for Hypercars.
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