Iron Lynx will expand its European Le Mans Series entry for the 2024 season, running two cars in the hotly contested championship. In 2023 – the final year for the LMGTE category – the team challenged for the title until the final race of the year. The team will operate cars in each of the two categories in 2024 – in LMP2 and LMGT3.
The #9 LMP2 will be run jointly by Iron Lynx and Proton Competition. 18-year-old Jonas Ried is the first confirmed driver. The young driver has raced in LMP2s throughout his 2023 campaign, and also has a wealth of single-seater experience under his belt having raced in a trio of Formula 4 championships.
Stepping up from Le Mans Cup into ELMS is Hiroshi Hamaguchi, driving the #63 LMGT3. The Japanese driver is already more than familiar with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO 2 which he will race, after racing in LMC in 2023 – which culminated in a superb victory at Portimão at the end of the season.
The 2024 season comprises six rounds, beginning with at Barcelona, Spain, before rounds at Le Castellet, France, and Imola, Italy. Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium begins the second half of the season before a new race at Mugello, Italy. The season finale takes place at Portimão in Portugal.
Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, Andrea Piccini, said: “Iron Lynx is excited to be back in ELMS in 2024 with two entries. It will be great to see Hiroshi make the next move in his racing career joining this important championship. We have been impressed with his performance in 2023, and want to thank him for being part of the team for another season. We’re also happy to welcome Jonas, a young promising driver, and we cannot wait to make our debut in the LMP2 Pro category jointly with our friends at Proton Competition.”