LMP2: Is History in the Making for United Autosports?
Once again, the LMP2 category forms the largest part of the ELMS, with 15 cars and 13 teams competing for the top step of the podium at the end of the 4 Hours of Monza.
Current championship leaders Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson are fresh from their class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they also secured the FIA World Endurance LMP2 Drivers’ Championship and the team title for United Autosports.
The Anglo-Portuguese duo are currently 29 points ahead of their United Autosports teammates Alex Brundle, Job Van Uitert and Will Owen in the no32 Oreca and should they finish more than 26 points ahead of their nearest rivals on Sunday afternoon they will add the ELMS titles to their world and 24 Hours of Le Mans crowns, which will be the first time that has ever happened.
However, as always, it will not be an easy job with a high-quality grid of cars all vying to take the win in Italy. Aside from their United Autosports teammates, 2018 champions G-Drive Racing will be strong challengers, with Jean-Eric Vergne once again joining Roman Rusinov and Mikkel Jensen in the Aurus 01.
Double podium finishers Alexandre Cougnaud, James Allen and Thomas Laurent will also be looking for their first win of the 2020 season in the no39 Graff Oreca, with the no31 Panis Racing Oreca of Will Stevens, Nico Jamin and Julien Canal sure to be at the sharp end of any battle for the chequered flag.
The no50 Richard Mille Racing Team Oreca is currently lying 6th in the championship and Monza will see the first ELMS event where the team will have a full complement of drivers as Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch and Beitske Visser compete together for the first time since their credible 9th place finish on their 24 Hours of Le Mans debut.
LMP3: Can Realteam Racing Stop United Autosports in Italy?
The battle for the LMP3 crown is certainly one to watch at Monza as United Autosports and Realteam Racing go head-to-head once again.
Double race winners, Rob Wheldon, Tom Gamble and Wayne Boyd are the current championship leaders in the no2 United Autosports Ligier, 14 points ahead of Round 3 winners David Droux and Esteban Garcia in the no8 Realteam Racing Ligier, who are on 38 points.
However, the chasing pack are not far behind with Duncan Tappy and Andrew Bentley in the no3 United Autosports Ligier on 34 points in 3rd, while 2019 Vice Champions Martin Hippe and Nigel Moore in the no13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier and Malthe Jakobsen and James Dayson in the no15 RLR MSport Ligier are tied on 33 Points.
LMGTE: Too Close to Call
The lead of the LMGTE category is shared by the no77 Proton Competition Porsche of Alessio Picariello, Christian Ried and Michele Beretta and the no74 Kessel Racing Ferrari of Michael Broniszewski and David Perel. Both crews have 56 points and with one win, one second, one fourth and one pole position each, they are incredibly difficult to split, with the no77 Porsche classified as leading the championship only by the fact their win in round 1 came before the no74 Ferrari’s victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
Round 3 winners Aaron Scott, Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin in the no55 Spirit of Race Ferrari are 16 points behind the two leading cars on 40 points, while the all-female crew of double podium finishers Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Manuela Gostner in the no83 Iron Lynx Ferrari are on 38 points in 4th place.
The 4 Hours of Monza is the fourth race of the 2020 European Le Mans Series and will take place on Sunday 11th October.
CLICK HERE for the provisional entry list for the 4 Hours of Monza.
LMP2: Is History in the Making for United Autosports?
Once again, the LMP2 category forms the largest part of the ELMS, with 15 cars and 13 teams competing for the top step of the podium at the end of the 4 Hours of Monza.
Current championship leaders Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson are fresh from their class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they also secured the FIA World Endurance LMP2 Drivers’ Championship and the team title for United Autosports.
The Anglo-Portuguese duo are currently 29 points ahead of their United Autosports teammates Alex Brundle, Job Van Uitert and Will Owen in the no32 Oreca and should they finish more than 26 points ahead of their nearest rivals on Sunday afternoon they will add the ELMS titles to their world and 24 Hours of Le Mans crowns, which will be the first time that has ever happened.
However, as always, it will not be an easy job with a high-quality grid of cars all vying to take the win in Italy. Aside from their United Autosports teammates, 2018 champions G-Drive Racing will be strong challengers, with Jean-Eric Vergne once again joining Roman Rusinov and Mikkel Jensen in the Aurus 01.
Double podium finishers Alexandre Cougnaud, James Allen and Thomas Laurent will also be looking for their first win of the 2020 season in the no39 Graff Oreca, with the no31 Panis Racing Oreca of Will Stevens, Nico Jamin and Julien Canal sure to be at the sharp end of any battle for the chequered flag.
The no50 Richard Mille Racing Team Oreca is currently lying 6th in the championship and Monza will see the first ELMS event where the team will have a full complement of drivers as Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch and Beitske Visser compete together for the first time since their credible 9th place finish on their 24 Hours of Le Mans debut.
LMP3: Can Realteam Racing Stop United Autosports in Italy?
The battle for the LMP3 crown is certainly one to watch at Monza as United Autosports and Realteam Racing go head-to-head once again.
Double race winners, Rob Wheldon, Tom Gamble and Wayne Boyd are the current championship leaders in the no2 United Autosports Ligier, 14 points ahead of Round 3 winners David Droux and Esteban Garcia in the no8 Realteam Racing Ligier, who are on 38 points.
However, the chasing pack are not far behind with Duncan Tappy and Andrew Bentley in the no3 United Autosports Ligier on 34 points in 3rd, while 2019 Vice Champions Martin Hippe and Nigel Moore in the no13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier and Malthe Jakobsen and James Dayson in the no15 RLR MSport Ligier are tied on 33 Points.
LMGTE: Too Close to Call
The lead of the LMGTE category is shared by the no77 Proton Competition Porsche of Alessio Picariello, Christian Ried and Michele Beretta and the no74 Kessel Racing Ferrari of Michael Broniszewski and David Perel. Both crews have 56 points and with one win, one second, one fourth and one pole position each, they are incredibly difficult to split, with the no77 Porsche classified as leading the championship only by the fact their win in round 1 came before the no74 Ferrari’s victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
Round 3 winners Aaron Scott, Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin in the no55 Spirit of Race Ferrari are 16 points behind the two leading cars on 40 points, while the all-female crew of double podium finishers Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting and Manuela Gostner in the no83 Iron Lynx Ferrari are on 38 points in 4th place.
The 4 Hours of Monza is the fourth race of the 2020 European Le Mans Series and will take place on Sunday 11th October.
CLICK HERE for the provisional entry list for the 4 Hours of Monza.
