Michael Shank Racing clinched their first victory in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca this weekend.

WTSCC

Aston Martin’s Hypercar programme is entering a new phase. At Silverstone, the British manufacturer ran a development version of its Valkyrie Hypercar to explore new avenues of performance. It was an important step ahead of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) return in 2027, with the 95th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (9–13 June 2027) firmly in its sights.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie continues to evolve. Aston Martin THOR Team recently conducted a test session dedicated to an upgraded version of its Hypercar at Silverstone. Driven by Ross Gunn and Harry Tincknell, the development Valkyrie allowed the British team to evaluate several technical developments and gather valuable data. After 18 months of competition, Aston Martin is now looking to build on its deeper understanding of the car to open a new chapter in its Hypercar programme.

<h2>A Valkyrie beginning to reveal its secrets</h2>

Silverstone was no random choice. Home of the British Grand Prix and a true heartland of British motorsport, the circuit is also located close to Aston Martin&rsquo;s AMR Technology Campus. In 2027, it will return to the FIA WEC calendar for the first time since 2019, hosting the 6 Hours of Silverstone from 23 to 25 April.

For Aston Martin THOR Team, the session was therefore both a test and a dress rehearsal. The team worked on different areas of performance with a Valkyrie whose characteristics are now better understood after its first two seasons of competition.

&ldquo;We are right at the beginning of this journey,&rdquo; explains Adam Carter, Aston Martin&rsquo;s Head of Endurance Motorsport. After 18 months spent observing, measuring and understanding the Valkyrie&rsquo;s behaviour in racing conditions, the manufacturer can now begin looking for where further gains can be made.

This approach comes as the Valkyrie has already shown clear progress in 2026. In the FIA WEC, both Valkyries scored points at the 6 Hours of S&atilde;o Paulo, finishing sixth and ninth. In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the British prototype has secured six top-10 finishes from seven races, including a second place on the road for Ross Gunn and Roman De Angelis.

The Valkyrie is therefore no longer simply a newcomer to the Hypercar class. It is beginning to follow an upward trajectory.

At Silverstone, Aston Martin THOR Team was therefore looking for new answers. The data gathered will now help shape the manufacturer&rsquo;s thinking about the next evolution of the Valkyrie.

&ldquo;Some of the developments we tried today will fuel our thinking as we consider the technical direction we go next with Valkyrie,&nbsp;explains Ian James, Aston Martin THOR Team Principal. There&rsquo;s more to come.&rdquo;

The phrase perfectly sums up the situation. The Valkyrie has already taken its first steps at the highest level. It is now entering a phase where every detail can make a difference.

And in 2027, those details will take on a particular significance. The FIA WEC&rsquo;s return to Silverstone will give Aston Martin its first opportunity to put on a show for its home fans with its Hypercar. Then comes the event that every endurance racing enthusiast already has in mind: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 9 to 13 June 2027.

The Valkyrie will have another story to tell. That of a Hypercar born for the road, transformed for racing and now committed to a constant pursuit of performance. A story that, clearly, is only just beginning.

At Silverstone, Aston Martin prepares the next evolution of the Valkyrie

The next European Le Mans Series round at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium will be a special one. For the race’s tenth anniversary, the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps boasts a field of 47 cars and 140 drivers. The season enters its second half for the four hotly disputed ELMS classes.

The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is round 4 of 6 in the 2026 season of the European Le Mans Series. The 47-car entry list breaks down as follows: 11 LMP2s, 12 LMP2 Pro/Ams, 10 LMP3s and 14 LMGT3s. A total of 140 drivers and 30 teams representing 30 nations are to take part in the tenth anniversary race, introduced in 2016 when the ELMS season was extended to five rounds.

<h2>LMP2: United Autosports looking to hold on to the lead</h2>

The championship remains undecided at the halfway mark. Ben Hanley, Gr&eacute;goire Saucy and Griffin Peebles top the tables with 58 points for the #22 Oreca&nbsp;07-Gibson of United Autosports.

The crew took second place at the 4 Hours of Imola, behind the Forestier Racing by Panis #29 Oreca. Esteban Masson, Louis Rousset and Oliver Gray come to Belgium with 52 points, just six points behind the leaders. Forestier Racing by Panis has banked sturdy results this year. They won two of the first three races this season and Spa-Francorchamps could well see a shift in the rankings.

<h2>LMP2 Pro/Am: a three-way battle</h2>

In LMP2 Pro/Am, the gap is even smaller. Algarve Pro Racing crew Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli and Malthe Jakobsen (#20), winners of the 4 Hours of Barcelona, tie for first place with Jens Reno M&oslash;ller, Cem B&ouml;l&uuml;kbaşı and Lorenzo Flux&aacute; (#7 Vector Sport) who triumphed at Imola. The teams have 43 points apiece.

Doriane Pin, Richard Vershoor and Giorgio Roda are not far behind, having earned 38 points at the wheel of the Duqueine Team #30.

AF Corse lie fourth on 36 points. The car remains in the hands of former class winners Fran&ccedil;ois Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxiviere and Antonio Fuoco. There is still all to play for in the second half of the season.

<h2>LMP3: Rinaldi Racing back in command</h2>

The LMP3 class is just as evenly matched. Alvise Rodella, Jose Fernandes Cautela and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen took the lead after their second place at the 4 Hours of Imola. The Rinaldi Racing #5 Ligier drivers currently have 49 points. Eight more than their nearest rivals Alex Bukhantsov, Henry Cubides Olarte and Chun Ting Chou in the Inter Europol Competition #13 who won at Le Castellet.

Reigning class champions&nbsp;CLX Motorsport made a comeback by winning at Imola. With 40 points, Paul Lanchere, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias stand third in the championship rankings.

Only 9 points separate the top three crews as they head to Spa-Francorchamps.

<h2>LMGT3: TF Sport takes control</h2>

In LMGT3, the first three rounds were won by three different cars. The TF Sport #33 Corvette&nbsp;Z06 LMGT3.R won the 4 Hours of Imola, placing Blake McDonald, Alec Udell and Charlie Eastwood in the lead.

With 44 points, the British crew have just one point in hand over the Proton Competition #75 Porsche Porsche&nbsp;911 GT3 R&nbsp;LMGT3&thinsp;&ndash;&thinsp;Richard Lietz, Matt Kurzejewski and Thomas Sargent having claimed victory at the 4 Hours of Barcelona. 
The Kessel Racing #57 Ferrari&nbsp;296 LMGT3 Evo stands third on 40 points. Takeshi Kimura, Daniel Serra and Mathys Jaubert were the winners at Le Castellet.

Just four points then, between the top three. In such a sharp contest, the four hours of Spa-Francorchamps could change the pecking order.

<h2>Watch the race live on the FIAWEC+ application</h2>

As a springboard to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the European Le Mans Series is streamed live on FIAWEC+, the official ELMS platform. Head to the free app for full live coverage and videos of the season&rsquo;s highlights.

Watch ELMS races free of charge with a FIAWEC+ account&nbsp;<a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/en/european-le-mans-series" target="_blank">www.plus.fiawec.com</a>

ELMS: the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is ten years old

Algarve Pro Racing, Inter Europol Competition and Panis Racing have chosen the Ligier JS P228 for their LMP2 programmes from 2028. Three race-winning teams with deep roots in endurance racing will therefore join forces with Ligier Automotive as a new generation of prototypes takes to the track.

From 2028, the LMP2 category will open a new chapter in its history. Selected by the ACO and the FIA as one of the two chassis suppliers for the next generation of LMP2 cars, Ligier Automotive is developing its Ligier JS P228 with a clear ambition: to return to the highest level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with teams capable of fighting for victory. Algarve Pro Racing, Inter Europol Competition and Panis Racing have already chosen to put their trust in the French manufacturer.

<h2>Three teams with one shared ambition: to win!</h2>

The decision by these three teams is no coincidence. All three have already built part of their history in LMP2, all know what it takes to compete at the highest level of endurance racing and all have won major races in the discipline.

For Ligier Automotive, their commitment represents an initial validation of the work undertaken since its selection in June 2025. Since then, the French manufacturer&#39;s teams, together with its US subsidiary Ligier Automotive North America, have been working on the development of the JS P228. The challenge is a major one: to make its new LMP2 a benchmark from the moment it enters competition.

Algarve Pro Racing already knows the way. Founded by Stewart and Samantha Cox, the team entered LMP2 with Ligier in 2015. Since then, it has won two European Le Mans Series titles, six Asian Le Mans Series titles and an IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup title. It has also claimed several LMP2 Pro-Am victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2026, the team notably won the 24 Hours of Daytona and took victory in its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The return to Ligier therefore carries particular significance. For Algarve Pro Racing, the JS P228 represents both a return to its roots and the beginning of a new adventure. The team does not simply want to be on the grid in 2028. It is targeting titles and victories in the world&#39;s biggest endurance races.

Inter Europol Competition brings a more recent, but already impressive, history. Founded in 2010 by Wojciech and Jakub Śmiechowski, the Polish team has scored three LMP2 victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the past four editions, including a <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/2026-24-hours-of-le-mans-a-historic-one-two-finish-in-lmp2-for-inter-europol-competition-60822" target="_blank">one-two finish in 2026</a>. IMSA LMP2 champions in 2024 and FIA WEC runners-up, the team has established itself as one of the leading forces in the category.

Its decision to choose the Ligier JS P228 reflects a desire to continue that progress. For Inter Europol Competition, this new generation of LMP2 cars represents an opportunity to bring fresh momentum to the category. One chapter is coming to an end, but the objective remains the same: to continue fighting at the front.

Panis Racing completes the trio. Founded in 2016 by Olivier Panis and Fabien Barthez, the French team has secured four podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and won the ELMS LMP2 title in 2025. It is also fighting at the sharp end of the championship this season.

For Olivier Panis, the decision to join forces with Ligier has a particular resonance. His 1996 Monaco Grand Prix victory came at the wheel of a Ligier. Almost three decades later, this chapter of French motorsport history is being extended with the JS P228. Panis Racing will rely on VPS Racing, the organisation notably led by Aur&eacute;lien Panis, to carry the project forward from 2028.

<h2>The Ligier JS P228, the first face of a new LMP2 era</h2>

With these three teams, Ligier Automotive is not simply preparing a new race car. The French manufacturer is preparing its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a generation of prototypes set to shape the LMP2 category from 2028 to 2032.

The Ligier JS P228 will continue a story that began in 2014 with the Ligier JS P2, which marked Ligier Automotive&#39;s return to the international motorsport scene. Since then, the manufacturer has developed its expertise in sport prototypes, as well as single-seaters and GT cars. More than a decade of accumulated experience is now converging towards a new challenge.

The JS P228 will make its competitive debut in 2028 in the European Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It will then enter the Asian Le Mans Series for the 2028/2029 season before joining the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2029.

For spectators at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2028 is already shaping up to be a special occasion. New regulations, a new generation of LMP2 cars and new prototypes will transform the face of the category. But the essential remains unchanged: for 24 hours, these prototypes will have to endure and push their limits.

And behind the technology, there will be stories to follow. Algarve Pro Racing returning to Ligier. Inter Europol Competition looking to continue its rise. Panis Racing writing a new chapter in a French motorsport story closely linked to the manufacturer.

Three teams. One new prototype. A new LMP2 era. In 2028, the Ligier JS P228 will meet the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And with it, three teams that will not be arriving simply to watch the race unfold, but to try to write its history.

Three Major Teams Choose Ligier for the New Generation of LMP2

Ford Racing has taken another major step in its return to the top level of endurance racing. On Monday, 17 August, the first images of its Hypercar on track were unveiled as the new American machine continues its testing programme ahead of its FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans debut in 2027.

It is a silhouette that fans have been waiting to see. After several months of development away from the spotlight, the Ford Hypercar has finally hit the track. Its testing programme began on 5 August with several days of shakedown testing, during which the team methodically checked each of the car&rsquo;s systems. On Monday, 17 August, Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant took the wheel for the first proper track tests, providing the first glimpse of Ford&rsquo;s future endurance racing contender.

<h2>A first run, and a new chapter begins</h2>

Before chasing outright performance, Ford Racing first had to ensure that everything was working as it should. The initial running allowed the team to check and activate all of the Hypercar&rsquo;s systems. It may be an invisible stage for the wider public, but it is essential: before thinking about lap times, every component, control and interaction between the various systems must perform as planned.

This initial phase went according to Ford&rsquo;s planned programme. The car is now ready to enter a new phase: track testing, where every lap brings new lessons and takes the prototype one step closer to its ultimate goal.

For this first outing, Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant took turns behind the wheel. Tom Blomqvist, who was also present during the initial development phase, is set to join the testing programme in the coming days. The three drivers are part of <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/ford-reveals-the-names-of-the-2027-hypercar-driver-crews-60778" target="_blank">the six official drivers selected by Ford for its 2027 Hypercar programme</a>, alongside Mike Rockenfeller, Nick Yelloly and Sebastian Priaulx.

The first image of this Ford on track ultimately tells a much bigger story than that of a simple test. It marks the moment when a project becomes reality. Until now, this car could only be imagined racing through the field at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now, it exists, it is running and it is starting to rack up the miles.

<h2>Ford prepares its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans</h2>

And, naturally, behind these first laps lies a story that goes far beyond the development of a prototype.

In 2027, Ford will return to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, almost six decades after its last involvement at the highest level. It is a return that inevitably echoes the history of the race. In the 1960s, the Ford GT40 left an indelible mark on Le Mans by securing four consecutive victories between 1966 and 1969. In 2016, 50 years after the first of those wins, the Ford GT also triumphed in the LMGTE Pro class.

The next chapter will be different. Ford is not returning simply to make up the numbers. The American manufacturer is preparing for a genuine battle at the highest level of the FIA WEC, with the ambition of returning to Le Mans in 2027 as part of an Hypercar field that promises to be stronger than ever.

Ford&rsquo;s Hypercar has only just begun its story. But since Monday, 17 August, one thing is certain: it has now left the computer screens behind and entered the real world. And it will be worth keeping an eye on it over the coming months. Because its next major appointment is already marked in bold on the calendar: the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Further images and additional information about this testing programme are expected to be released by Ford Racing next week.

Ford reveals first images of its Hypercar on track

For the Ligier JS P2 it is a third success, Extreme Speed Motorsports having won the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring with the car.

	It is also a third for Honda Performance Development, the competition division of Honda. John Pew and Ozz Negri were at the wheel. Both drivers will be making their Le Mans 24 Hours d&eacute;but on 18 June.

	<img class="imgVideo" id="4676" src="/wpphpFichiers/video/5727b7e1e5511-hqdefault.jpg" />

	C&eacute;cile Bonardel / ACO &mdash; Translated from French by Emma Paulay

	Video: YouTube - Honda Racing/HPD 
	&nbsp;

IMSA - Michael Shank Racing win at Laguna Seca with the Ligier HPD (video)

Related News

At Silverstone, Aston Martin prepares the next evolution of the Valkyrie

ELMS: the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is ten years old

Three Major Teams Choose Ligier for the New Generation of LMP2

Ford reveals first images of its Hypercar on track

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