The 2026 ELMS provisional entry list is out, and once again, the ACO’s premier European sportscar series is oversubscribed, with a capacity grid of 47 cars set to contest the full season across the four categories, up from 44 last year.
The class split sees 11 LMP2, 12 LMP2 Pro/Am, 10 LMP3 and 14 LMGT3 cars on the list. The number of cars in the premier class is down from 13, Pro/Am has been boosted from eight, LMGT3 has increased in size by one car, and LMP3 has remained static with 10 cars.
In LMP2, the class has shrunk because both Duqueine’s entry and the #47 CLX ORECA have moved to Pro/Am. Meanwhile, the reigning champion, Panis Racing, has renamed its team to Forestier Racing by Panis and changed the number to #29.
In the driver columns, Jamie Chadwick returns to IDEC as part of her Genesis ‘Trajectory Programme’ involvement. Griffin Peebles has replaced Manuel Maldonado at United in its #22 ORECA. The #24 Nielsen entry lists EuroFormula Open driver Edward Pearson.
Inter Europol has signed Bijoy Garg and IMSA GTP driver Tom Blomqvist for its #34 effort, and 2025 LMP3 champions Adrien Closmenil and Theodor Jensen graduate to the top class with CLX in its #37 car.
LMP2 Pro/Am’s boosted field includes Duqueine, the #47 CLX, number changes for TDS and Proton, plus an additional entry listed as Rossa Racing by Virage. It marks a return to P2 competition for Virage after a year away and comes with support from the nascent Rossa road/ race car company based in Dubai.
A handful of notable drivers have been confirmed, too. Jean Glorieux is back in the series after multiple seasons out with DKR alongside Rookie Test standout Marlon Hernandez.
At Vector, 2025 IndyCar racer Jacob Abel is named with Pietro Fittipaldi. Peugeot Hypercar driver Malthe Jakobsen and Enzo Trulli have signed with APR as Alex Quinn shifts to Nielsen Racing, indicating that Kriton Lentoudis will also make the move.
Qualifying ace Giorgio Roda has also changed teams; he switches to Duqueine from Proton and will compete alongside F2 race winner Richard Verschoor.
LMP3’s 10-car field is down on variety from last year, with nine Ligiers and a single Duqueine making up the grid. Gone is the DKR Ginetta; the team opted to switch to Ligier, and Rinaldi Racing (without WTM branding) has also moved to Ligier from Duqueine.
The sole Duqueine D09 in the field is entered by reigning Le Mans Cup champion R-ace GP, with its two championship-winning drivers Fabien Michal, Hugo Schwarze, plus Pierre-Alexandre Provost.
There’s been a handful of key changes from last year in LMGT3, which has grown from 13 to 14 cars. Gone are two fan-favourite cars, the longstanding British-flagged Ferrari from title-winning team JMW Motorsport and the all-female Iron Dames Porsche. Reigning class champion TF Sport, meanwhile, was unsuccessful in its attempt to enter a second Corvette.
Elsewhere, there’s a new Porsche entered from Danish outfit High Class Racing (which is believed to have attempted to re-enter LMP2 but was unsuccessful), and a second Iron Lynx Mercedes bannered as QMMF. There are also number changes for Proton (now #77 and #91) and TF (now #33).
As for drivers, successful GT World Challenge America duo, Blake McDonald and Matt Bell, move to TF Sport in addition to their Asian Le Mans programme over the winter. Ex-team Team Thor owner Audunn Gudmundsson returns to the ELMS with High Class. Marius Fossard joins the Aston Martin Team Racing Spirit of Leman.
2024 Le Mans Cup title winner Matthew Kurzejewski is listed with Proton in the #91, and ‘Bankcy’, who is currently competing in the Asian Le Mans Series, is named in the sister car. Also from the current Asian Le Mans crop, Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi is set to race in the QMMF-branded Mercedes.
“The 2026 European Le Mans Series entry list underlines the championship’s outstanding vitality and its central role within the endurance racing pyramid,” Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.
“A record grid of 47 cars, strong representation across all categories and a compelling mix of established teams and new contenders once again highlight the ELMS as a benchmark platform for performance, competition and driver development. This level of commitment from teams and manufacturers is a clear sign of the championship’s appeal, and we look forward to another highly competitive and exciting season, starting in Barcelona.”
Frédéric Lequien, CEO of Le Mans Endurance Management, added: “The 2026 European Le Mans Series will see the largest ever entry, with a huge grid of 47 cars. We are extremely pleased to see this important championship reach new heights and attract the best teams and drivers from around the world.
“LMP2 stands out, with a total of 23 cars across the two categories, with 11 cars for LMP2 and 12 in LMP2 Pro/Am. With six brands once again in LMGT3 and the Toyota-powered LMP3 cars providing the perfect platform for emerging driver talent, it is no wonder that teams and drivers want to compete in the ELMS.
“We’d like to extend a warm welcome to both the teams and drivers who are returning to the ELMS and to those who will make their series debut in Barcelona. We can’t wait for 2026 and the first race in April.”
The six-round 2026 European Le Mans Series will start at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday, 12th April, with visits to Le Castellet, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone before concluding in Portimão in October.
