The GT3 Le Mans Cup was created in 2016 after the
GTC category was dropped from the
European Le Mans Series. The new series was designed primarily to increase the number of amateur drivers. The teams' champion automatically receives an invitation to take part in the following
24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGT3 category. From the
2017 season, the series adopted a new format with LMP3 and GT3-class cars competing in their respective categories, with the ACO aiming to create a secondary division of LMP3-racing and promoting the best teams from the Le Mans Cup to the European Le Mans Series. A new LMP3 specification with higher power engines was introduced for the
2020 season; this was found to consume more fuel than predicted, forcing pit stop and stint time rule changes. The Le Mans weekend originally had a one-hour format in 2017, and has had two 55-minute races every year since 2018. The remaining races originally had a two-hour format, later shortened to 1h 50min for the 2022 season, to enable removal of this second mandatory pit stop. Starting in the 2025 Le Mans Cup Season, the LMP3 Class will be split into two with the introduction of LMP3 Pro-Am as well as new
ACO Generation III LMP3 Built cars will be eligible for the category such as the
Ginetta G61-LT-P3 Evo,
Ligier JS P325,
Duqueine D09, and the
ADESS AD25 all of which use a
V35A-FTS 3.5L
Toyota V6 twin turbo engine and
Michelin tyres. ==Logo History==