Entries for the 24 Hours of Le Mans are set to open next week, ahead of a revised timeline for selections to take place for next year’s French endurance classic.

The ACO confirmed that requests will be accepted between Dec. 18 and Feb. 5, with the entry list to be announced on Feb. 9.

It marks a change from recent years, which saw the 60 confirmed entries revealed one week earlier, in the first week of February.

The change is understood to have been made due to the late conclusion of the 2017/18 Asian Le Mans Series season, which wraps up in Sepang on Feb. 4.

Seven teams have already been granted auto entries, including 2017 class winners Jackie Chan DC Racing (LMP2), Aston Martin Racing (GTE-Pro) and JMW Motorsport (GTE-Am).

JMW has secured a second invite courtesy of its GTE title in the European Le Mans Series, alongside fellow series champions G-Drive Racing (LMP2) and United Autosports (LMP3, for use in LMP2).

ELMS GTE runners-up TF Sport has secured an invite, with Michelin Le Mans Cup champions Ebimotors securing an invite for GTE-Am.

Additional invites will come from champions in the Asian Le Mans Series, with a pair of invites from IMSA yet to be formally announced.

However, Sportscar365 understands those invites have been given to JDC-Miller Motorsports (LMP2) and Ben Keating (GTE-Am).