The Automobile Club de l'Ouest, which sanctions the Le Mans 24 Hours, American Le Mans Series, and European Le Mans Series, has announced that it will take another shot at an Asian Le Mans Series.
Though an earlier incarnation didn’t take hold, ACO believes that the interest of Japan (with Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, and Dome building race cars or motors), China (which hosts F1 and the World Endurance Championship and other international sports car events) and India (hosting F1 and contributing several drivers to international series) warrants another attempt.
Also, China is the fastest-growing car market in the world, and manufacturers use racing as advertising.
ACO president Pierre Fillon said on the ACO website: “We have to organize Le Mans type endurance races in expanding markets, as this will enable manufacturers to showcase the reliability of their cars, enhance their image and demonstrate the soundness of their new technologies. This is obviously the case today in China and also in the whole of Asia.”
ACO plans five or six races; four in China, one in Japan, and possibly one in Indonesia. With Korea and India also having F1 courses, one would think that the countries might be included in 2014.
