The Asian Le Mans Series is returning to Japan. The Suzuka circuit will be the venue for the opening round of the 2020-21 season, to be held on 20-22 November 2020. This will be the first time that the season has opened in the country and also the first time that Suzuka welcomes drivers and teams competing in the LMP2, LMP2 Am Trophy, LMP3 and GT classes to its 5.8-km “figure-of-eight” layout.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: I am delighted by this announcement, which marks both the return of the Asian Le Mans Series to Japan and further strengthens the nature of the partnership between Le Mans and Suzuka and highlights the friendship agreement that was sealed a few months ago as part of our motorcycle Endurance World Championship events. I thank President Tanaka for contributing to this strong cooperation dynamic.

As a result of this friendship agreement between Le Mans and Suzuka, Mr Masakazu Araki, Senior Managing Director of MobilityLand, awarded a trophy in the colours of the Suzuka circuit to Mr Masakazu Fujii, team manager of FCC TSR Honda France, the most outstanding Asian team at the Le Mans 24H Motos last April.

Cyrille Taesch Wahlen, Managing Director of the Asian Le Mans Series: We wanted to go back to Japan and being able to do so within the context of our next year’s season-opening round, and for the first time at Suzuka, is extremely satisfying and exciting. The attractiveness of such a legendary track, combined with the constant growth of the Asian Le Mans Series should create a momentous event.

The 2019-20 campaign began last weekend with the 4 Hours of Shanghai. The next round will be held on 10-12 January 2020 at The Bend Motorsport Park in Australia. The field will then head to Sepang in Malaysia (14-15 February 2020) and, finally, Buriram in Thailand (21-23 February 2020). At the end of the season, four invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans (13-14 June 2020) will be awarded to the LMP2, LMP2 Am Trophy, LMP3 and GT class winners.

For further information on the Asian Le Mans Series, go to the official website. 

Photo: © MOBILITYLAND