2025–2026 Asian Le Mans Series Sporting Clarifications Overview

The 2025–2026 Asian Le Mans Series introduces a refined set of sporting clarifications designed to unify race control procedures, enhance safety, and provide greater transparency for teams across LMP2, LMP3 and GT3 categories.
This overview summarizes the key updates and clarifications found in the official Sporting Clarifications document, covering race weekend structure, driver categorization, driving time requirements, pit lane regulations, and neutralization procedures.

1. Race Weekend Format

Free Practice

• Multiple Free Practice (FP) sessions may be scheduled.
• Participation of Bronze drivers is strongly encouraged, and some sessions may include Bronze-only requirements depending on race control directives.

Qualifying

• Qualifying remains class-specific (LMP2 / LMP3 / GT3).
• For GT3, qualifying must be completed by the Bronze driver, reinforcing the series’ Bronze-focused sporting philosophy.
• Track limits, impeding, and slow-lap behavior are monitored strictly and may result in deletion of lap times.

Race Format

• All events follow the endurance-race model.
• Maximum stint lengths and minimum rest periods are governed by category-specific driving time rules (summarized below).

2. Driver Grading and Line-up Requirements

LMP2

• Line-ups require at least one Bronze or one Silver depending on the sub-class.
• In Pro-Am configurations, a Bronze driver is mandatory and subject to minimum driving time requirements.

LMP3

• At least one Bronze driver is required.
• Stronger limitations apply to Platinum/Gold participation to ensure the category remains semi-pro in nature.

GT3

• GT3 is strictly Bronze-focused:
  • Each car must include one Bronze driver.
  • Bronze drivers have minimum participation time.
  • Platinum and Gold drivers are permitted but subject to maximum drive-time restrictions and stint-length limitations.

3. Driving Time Regulations

Minimum & Maximum Drive Times

• Minimum driving time is enforced for Bronze drivers across all categories.
• A single driver may not exceed the maximum continuous stint time.
• Rest periods apply between stints to avoid excessive fatigue.

Race-Ending Restrictions

• A Bronze driver may not be substituted solely for strategic reasons late in the race if the minimum driving time has not been fulfilled.
• Teams that fail to meet drive-time requirements face time penalties or exclusion depending on severity.

4. Pit Lane & Pit Stop Regulations

General Pit Lane Rules

• A strict pit lane speed limit is enforced; violations incur time penalties.
• Pit boxes must remain clear of unnecessary personnel or equipment.

Refuelling

• Refuelling may only occur in designated areas with approved equipment.
• Engine must be shut off during fuelling; driver changes may occur simultaneously depending on team procedures.

Pit Stop Under Safety Car / FCY

• Pit exits may be closed under Safety Car conditions.
• Cars must obey marshal instructions when rejoining.

Penalties

Common pit-related penalties include:

• Drive-through for speeding.
• Stop-and-go for unsafe release.
• Added race time for procedural infractions.

5. Race Neutralization Procedures

Full Course Yellow (FCY)

• All cars must immediately slow to 80 km/h (unless otherwise announced).
• No overtaking.
• Pit lane normally remains open unless race control decides otherwise.

Virtual Safety Car (VSC)

• Used to stabilize the field during short interventions.
• Delta time must be respected; violations may incur penalties.

Safety Car (SC)

• The SC may be deployed for major incidents or track cleanup.
• Wave-by and pass-around procedures ensure proper class and lap ordering.
• Lapped cars may be released or held depending on conditions.

Restart Procedure

• The SC lights go out one lap before racing resumes.
• Overtaking is prohibited until cars cross the control line.

6. Track Limits, On-Track Behavior & Penalties

Track Limits

• Exceeding track limits results in progressive penalties:
  • Warning → Black-and-white flag → Time penalty.

Driving Standards

• Blocking, weaving, and inconsistent behavior while being lapped may incur penalties.
• Blue flags must be respected at all times.

Incident Review

• Stewards may evaluate incidents post-race.
• Penalties include time adjustments, grid drops, or points deductions.

7. Additional Clarifications

Tyre Usage

• Maximum sets per event/session are regulated by class.
• Tyre marking and allocation are monitored by scrutineers.

Data Systems

• Mandatory FIA data logger and team telemetry requirements apply throughout the weekend.

Technical Compliance

• Cars may be summoned for post-race technical inspection at any time.
• Non-compliance may result in exclusion.

Conclusion

The 2025–2026 Sporting Clarifications reinforce the Asian Le Mans Series’ commitment to fairness, safety and competitive equilibrium.
By tightening rules around Bronze participation, pit procedures and race neutralization protocols, the series ensures a clear framework for multi-class endurance competition across Asia.

These clarifications serve as an essential operational reference for teams, drivers and engineers preparing for the season.