43 teams (fielding 61 cars) competed in the 87th 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Super Finale of the FIA WEC 2018-19 World Endurance Championship. There were winners, of course, but also mechanical glitches, track incidents and early retirements. Joy for some, disappointment for others... Here’s a summary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the Gulf Racing team, which ran in the LMGTE Am class.

24 Heures du Mans

FIA WEC

The Portimão round of the European Le Mans Series, the last in the 2026 season, will decide the outcome of the championship. Aside from the title, the 47 competitors will be vying for an invitation to compete in the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

European Le Mans Series

The season hangs on the last four hours. This weekend, the European Le Mans Series heads to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for the sixth and last round of the season. The 47 cars on the grid, divided into four categories, will be jostling for position. There are ELMS titles to be claimed, and with them, the opportunity to take part in the 95th 24 Hours of Le Mans, 9–13 June 2027. The pecking order in all four classes – LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3 – remains undecided.

Check out the <a href="https://www.fiawec.com/umbrella_media/2026-elms-4-hours-of-portimao-entry-list-v1-6abcbf5683191413026334.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">provisional entry list</a> for the 2026 4 Hours of Portimão.

<h2>LMP2: High stakes for Forestier Racing by Panis and United Autosports</h2>

In LMP2, the battle for the title is a head-to-head between the #22 Oreca 07-Gibson of United Autosports in the hands of Grégoire Saucy, Griffin Peebles and Ben Hanley, and the #45 Oreca of Forestier Racing by Panis driven by Louis Rousset, Esteban Masson and Oliver Gray. Their 13-point lead gives United Autosports the advantage, especially as they can be sure of an invitation to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Forestier Racing by Panis need to finish in the top five to lay hands on the second invitation.

Several teams could cause an upset. The #25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca of Matthias Kaiser, Jake Hughes and Alex Lynn (replacing Ben Barnicoat) could overtake the French team. So could the #18 IDEC Sport of Jamie Chadwick, Valerio Rinicella and Laurents Hörr and the #34 Inter Europol Competition shared by Reshad de Gerus and Bijoy Garg.

This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 winners Nick Yelloly, Tom Dillmann and Kuba Smiechowski in the #43 Inter Europol Competition are not in a position to take the title but will be looking to finish on a high note. Also watch out for Paul Lafargue, Job Van Uitert and Paul-Loup Chatin (#28 IDEC Sport) who claimed their second podium place of the season at Silverstone.

<h2>LMP2 Pro/Am: eight crews, one crown</h2>

In LMP2 Pro/Am there is even more suspense. On paper, eight crews are still in the running for the championship title, and only six points separate the top four.

AF Corse heads the table, with a five-point lead. François Perrodo and Matthieu Vaxiviere are aiming for their third title in four years, while Antonio Fuoco, winner of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, is in a position to add another ELMS crown to his silver cabinet.

However, TDS Racing are raring to go. Steven Thomas, Sami Meguetounif and Scott Huffaker II achieved an excellent result at Silverstone, banking 26 points to take second place, with a total of 62.

Algarve Pro Racing is only one point behind, neck and neck with the #30 Duqueine Team. Having triumphed in Barcelona, the Portuguese team and drivers Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli and Malthe Jakobsen would be overjoyed to win at home.

The championship title is within the reach of Vector Sport, Rossa Racing by Virage, AO Racing and United Autosports. With 45 points, defending champions PJ Hyett, Louis Delétraz and Dane Cameron need a win to retain their title. Daniel Schneider, Marino Sato and Oliver Jarvis (#21 United Autosports) also need to win the race to have a chance of winning the championship.

<h2>LMP3: CLX Motorsport on course to remain champions</h2>

Looking at the LMP3 rankings, three crews are in a position to win the championship. CLX Motorsport has a nine-point lead over R-ace GP.

Paul Lanchère, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias have amassed 84 points thanks to victories at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps, and a second place at Silverstone. R-ace GP and drivers Fabien Michel, Pierre-Alexandre Provost and Hugo Schwarze finally won a race, at Silverstone, and remain in the running.

On paper, Rinaldi Racing still have a chance with the #5 Ligier driven by José Fernandes Cautela, Alvise Rodella and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen. However, they are 25 points behind CLX Motorsport and winning the title hinges not only on winning the race, but on their opponents having a particularly bad day.

The winner of LMP3 will also receive an invitation to compete in the LMP2 class at the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans. The seven other teams competing at Portimão are sure to want a positive end to their season too.

<h2>LMGT3: six teams still in line for the title</h2>

The LMGT3 class is particularly evenly matched. Of the 14 cars entered, six crews could still win the class championship.

TEAM Qatar by Iron Lynx took the lead after its first win at Silverstone. The #62 Mercedes-AMG of Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi, Julien Hanses and Ralf Aron boasts a total of 73 points – three more than reigning champions TF Sport.

A win this weekend would be enough for the #33 driven by Alec Udell, Blake McDonald and Charlie Eastwood to retain the title.

The two Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R LMGT3s are not far behind. The #77 of Martin Berry, Huub Van Eijndhoven and Harry King has 62 points, and the #75 has 61, thanks to a win in Barcelona for Matt Kurzejewski, Thomas Sargent and Richard Lietz.

Kessel Racing and GR Racing also need a win to have a hope of claiming the championship. The Ferrari #57 of Takeshi Kimura, Mathys Jaubert and Daniel Serra is 21 points behind the leader, and the Ferrari #86 of Michael Wainwright, Lorcan Hanafin and Mex Jansen has 23 points to make up.

However, there are 26 points available, so everything is possible at Portimão.

The chequered flag will signal the end of the race, and the result of the 2026 European Le Mans Series. Portimão will also decide who goes to Le Mans: the champions and vice-champions of LMP2, and the winners of LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3 all earn an invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<h2>Watch the 4 Hours of Portimão on FIAWEC+</h2>

Race fans can tune into free live coverage of the 4 Hours of Portimão, the last round of the 2026 European Le Mans Series on FIAWEC+, the official endurance streaming platform. ELMS season highlights and replays are available too. Head to <a href="https://plus.fiawec.com/fr/european-le-mans-series?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FIAWEC+</a> to watch the 2026 season finale.

ELMS: Portimão is the last chance to claim a title and earn an invitation to Le Mans

After twelve seasons of top-notch endurance racing with Toyota, Mike Conway will retire from full-time racing at the end of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. The 43-year-old British driver’s glittering career is marked by two 24 Hours of Le Mans victories and unwavering loyalty to the Japanese manufacturer.

Mike Conway will quit full-time racing at the end of this FIA WEC season. The decision is the closing line of a long chapter in his career. Having joined Toyota in 2014, Conway took part in twelve 24 Hours of Le Mans, earning two victories, five podium places and seven world titles for the Japanese manufacturer. His last race with Toyota will be the 6 Hours of Monza on 8 November.

<h2>the school of patience</h2>

Mike Conway’s endurance racing career is synonymous with loyalty. He has been part of the Toyota team throughout its major transformations, helping the manufacturer make a name for itself in endurance racing. He was there when the win was in sight, but was snatched away, he lived through the disappointments, and the celebrations when the planets finally aligned.

The first historic moment came in 2021 when Conway added his name to the list of 24 Hours of Le Mans winners, thanks to victory with the #7 Toyota GR010 Hybrid shared with Kamui Kobayashi and José María López. A just reward after years of frustration.

For Le Mans was not a walk in the park for Mike Conway. The top step of the podium was preceded by second places in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Four near misses.

This year, he triumphed again. He shared his second 24 Hours of Le Mans win with Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries. A fitting end to a twelve-part story.

Twelve Le Mans starts that yielded two wins and five podium places. For Conway, Le Mans was the school of patience.

<h2>an outstanding teammate</h2>

Results are one thing, but Toyota Racing emphasises the man behind the driver.

Kamui Kobayashi, now Toyota Team Principal, was beside Conway for much of his time with Toyota, sharing the wheel of the #7 car with him. ‘It has been a pleasure to race the #7 car with Mike for so many years. We have shared so many emotional moments together, particularly at Le Mans. Some of my most incredible memories in racing have come alongside Mike. He has been an incredible teammate, not only in terms of speed and consistency, but on a human level as well. He has become a friend to many of us, and we will miss having him in the team. But nothing lasts forever in motorsports, and we all want to wish Mike a deserved, and very happy, retirement with his family.’

Conway contested 94 WEC races with Toyota. He won 20 of them, and took two drivers titles (2019-20 and 2021). His last race for the team will be the 6 Hours of Monza on 8 November.

So, he hasn’t taken his last bow yet. There’s another battle to wage. With two races still to go, Conway and his teammates Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries are currently in second place in the drivers’ championship, just ten points behind the other Toyota driven by Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryō Hirakawa.

Mike Conway to hang up his racing helmet at the end of this season

In episode 1 of Drivers of Destiny, Tom Kristensen looks back on his racing career and reveals the numerous rewards of the 24 Hours of Le Mans beyond the nine triumphs.

To Tom Kristensen, Le Mans means much more than a glittering record of nine wins in 18 race starts. Over the years, the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a school of life for the Danish driver. His experience helped him grow, put things into perspective and understand the importance of teamwork. In episode 1 of Drivers of Destiny, with touching sincerity the nine-time winner tells what the 24 Hours of Le Mans has meant to him, and how the race still affects his life.

<h2>The phone call that changed everything</h2>

Kristensen’s relationship with the 24 Hours of Le Mans began long before he ever took part in the race. He was ten years old when he first watched <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/steve-mcqueen-and-paul-newman-when-hollywood-talents-tackle-the-24-hours-of-le-mans-56792">Steve McQueen’s film, Le Mans</a>. He had only just started go-karting. Le Mans was still the stuff of dreams. It wasn’t until later that it started to become reality. “One time, we stopped the final of the [karting] race [so] we could [watch] the Jaguar with John Nielsen finishing. A fellow Dane winning Le Mans. At that point, I knew wanted to do Le Mans one day.”

That dream came true sooner than expected. In 1997, just four days before that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, he got a phone call that marked a turning point. Joest Racing asked him to share the wheel of their Porsche with Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson.

You don’t forget your first encounter with the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans. It’s so big. And steeped in history. The legend is everywhere: in the grandstands, the corners, the city’s streets, even the procedures.

Tom Kristensen remembers his first race week as a succession of discoveries: seeing the circuit, meeting the team, scrutineering in town... It was all new to him. 
Throughout it all, he could feel something special. Respect.

Le Mans naturally imposes its history. Yet Tom Kristensen does not say he felt intimidated by the place. With time, it has come to mean something different. What was once a place to conquer has gradually become a haven. A place to come back to. A home from home.

<h2>The 24 Hours of Le Mans, school of life</h2>

There lies the essence of his message. On reflection, the record-holder for the most Le Mans 24 hours victories does not evoke racing, speed and success. He talks about what he learned at Le Mans.

“I think it’s a form of education”, he says. A curriculum of experience, happy times, difficulties and encounters. Kristensen believes endurance racing is a school of life. You learn to work with others, to deal with the unexpected, stay focused on the task in hand and to trust those around you. You don’t win the 24 Hours of Le Mans on your own!

Behind every driver there are mechanics, engineers, team members – people who work for months, years, to prepare for one week a year. Camaraderie and trust are as important as performance. The team aspect is particularly important to Kristensen.

<h2>Realisation</h2>

Kristensen is not likely to forget the first time he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He recorded the fastest lap in the race with the #7 Porsche TWR WSC 95 he shared with Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson… The entire experience was incredibly fast.

On the day, he was tired, proud and relieved to have lived up to expectations. Now, looking back, he sees his accomplishments in a new light.   
Today, Tom Kristensen views the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the most important part of his racing career. Not the nine wins; rather what they represent: the people he met, the friends he made, the memories he built and the feelings he shared. “I wouldn’t say Le Mans changed me,” he admits. “But it definitely has given me a lot of value in life. It has given me a lot of things to reflect on. I think I’m more relaxed in a way.”

<h2>How has Le Mans affected you?</h2>

This episode of Drivers of Destiny illustrates that behind a star racer lies a profoundly universal experience.

We all have a memory of something that sparked a passion. An encounter that marked a turning point. A place where we feel at home. A moment of joy shared with others. To Tom Kristensen, it’s Le Mans. In Drivers of Destiny, he tells us why.

Take a trip down memory lane with the nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in episode 1 of our new series.

Drivers of destiny - Tom Kristensen

Tom Kristensen: What the 24 Hours of Le Mans taught me about life

The entry list for the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series, which will be a unique season of six 4-hour races in Europe, will feature 47 full season entries across the three classes, the maximum that can be accommodated by the Circuit Paul Ricard, the Circuito de Jerez and the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.

Asian Le Mans

The new Hypercar class has attracted two Ferrari 499P. 2025/26 ALMS LMP2 Vice Champions Cetilar Racing are fielding one car for father and son duo Roberto and Nicola Lacorte, who will be joined by 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Antonio Fuoco in the no47 entry. The second Ferrari will be in AF Corse colours, with 24 Hours of Le Mans winners Yifei Ye and Nicklas Nielsen joining Luis Perez Companc in the no90 499P.

The 16-strong LMP2 field equals the record-breaking entry for the class last season. The 2026/27 ALMS entry is completed by an impressive line-up of 29 cars, featuring no less than eight different manufacturers – Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche.

The 47 strong entry list will see 32 teams representing 16 different nations, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, the USA, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and the UK.

<h2>LMP2</h2>

The 16 entries in the LMP2 field will include champions both past and present. 

Reigning champions Crowdstrike Racing by APR return to defend their title with Drivers’ Champion George Kurtz as the lead driver. As well as running the Crowdstrike Racing Oreca, 2024/25 champions Algarve Pro Racing will run two cars with former champion Michael Jensen in the no25 Oreca and former ELMS champion John Falb in the no20 entry.

Former ALMS LMP2 champions Nielsen Racing and DKR Engineering will enter a car each, with American Naveen Rao the lead driver for Nielsen and Belgian racer Jean Glorieux for DKR.

Reigning 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 winners Inter Europol Competition will enter a pair of Oreca-Gibsons, with double Le Mans class winner Nick Yelloly in the no43 entry. United Autosports, AF Corse and Proton Competition will each run a pair of cars in the LMP2 category, while Team Virage, Duqueine Team and CLX Motorsport will each run a single Oreca-Gibson.

<h2>GT3</h2>

The impressive line-up of 29 cars includes seven Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVOs, six Porsche 911 GT3 R EVOs, five Ferrari 296 GT3 EVOs, four Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVOs, two Lamborghini Temerario GT3s, two Ford Mustang GT3 EVOs, two McLaren 720S GT3 EVOs and one BMW M4 GT3 EVO.

Former champions Manthey return to the ALMS once again with a pair of Porsche 911s, with 2024/25 champion Klaus Bachler in the no91 entry and multi 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Richard Lietz in the no92 Porsche.

Asia is well represented on the GT3 grid with Malaysian team Petrolife Racing Team entering a single Mercedes-AMG, with Malaysian racer Afiq Yazid named as the lead driver. 

There are two Japanese teams, with Takeshi Kimura rejoining the grid in the distinctive no57 Car Guy liveried Ferrari 296. After racing in LMP2 last season, Ponos returns to the ALMS with a single Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO for Yorikatsu Tsujiko and Takuro Shinohara.

ELMS LMGT3 Championship leaders Team Qatar by Iron Lynx will run a single entry for Qatari driver Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi and Maxime Martin. Iron Lynx will also run a second Mercedes-AMG for Hong Kong team Craft-Bamboo Racing.

Anglo-Bahraini team 2 Seas Motorsports will run a pair of Mercedes-AMGs, with Bahraini racer Isa Al Khaifa joining Nicolas Cristofaro in the no46 car, while father-son duo Lawrence and Freddie Tomlinson race the no33 Mercedes-AMG.

UAE team Dragon Racing will run a single Ferrari 296 for 2024 ELMS LMGT3 champion Axcil Jefferies from Zimbabwe.

American squad Heart of Racing Team will run a pair of Aston Martins, the leading FIA WEC team fielding the no26 car for Gray Newell and the no27 Vantage for Ian James. There are two further Aston Martin Vantage GT3s on the grid, with Car Blanche by RSL and Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn running one car each.

Multiple championship winning Belgian outfit Team WRT return with a single BMW M4 GT3 for 2025/26 ALMS Vice Champion Anthony Mcintosh.

British team Garage 59 will run a pair of McLaren 720S GT3s, with Tom Fleming in the no58 car and Alexander West in the no60.

Haupt Racing Team will bring a pair of Ford Mustang GT3s to the ALMS this year, with Indian driver Arjun Maini racing in the no64 Mustang.  Dyfne Racing Team and Leipert Motorsports fielding a single Lamborghini Temerario each.

ALMS race winning teams Getspeed and Winward Racing will each enter a single Mercedes-AMG GT3, with Steve Jans and Anthony Bartone in the no9 Getspeed car and Rinat Salikhov in the no87 Winward car.  

Fellow German team Proton Competition will enter a pair of Porsche 911 GT3 R EVOs alongside their two LMP2 cars, with Japanese driver Hiroyuki Ogawa in the no77 entry and Australian Martin Berry in the no99 Porsche. High Class Racing and Herberth Motorsport will both run a single Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO.

The grid is completed by a pair of Ferrari 296 GT3 EVOs run by AF Corse, meaning the Italian team are running cars in all three classes in the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series.

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “A 47-car entry for the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series is a tremendous demonstration of the strength and appeal of the championship. In what is an exceptional season, this remarkable grid reflects the confidence of teams, manufacturers and drivers in the series and in the values of endurance racing. With Hypercars joining the championship for the first time, alongside a highly competitive LMP2 and GT3 field, we have all the ingredients for an outstanding season. The Asian Le Mans Series remains an important part of the Le Mans endurance racing family and a pathway to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I would like to thank all the competitors for their commitment and trust, and I look forward to seeing this exceptional field on track at Le Castellet in November.”

Frédéric Lequien, ALMEM and LMEM CEO: “We are very pleased to announce another huge field for the Asian Le Mans Series this season. Despite the ongoing issues in the Middle East, we are truly happy to see so many drivers and teams from Asia making the trip to compete in Europe in this unique series.

“We have two Ferraris entered in Hypercar, and, while we were hoping to have more for the first season, we look forward to seeing Cetilar Racing and AF Corse in action in Le Castellet.

“While we have an impressive 16 cars in LMP2 and 29 in GT3, we actually received many more applications beyond the 47-car maximum, and we would like to thank every team that applied for a place on the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series grid for their interest and support.

“We are looking forward to seeing another great season of racing starting in Le Castellet next month.”

Stéphane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO: “Its calendar and continent might have changed significantly but the Asian Le Mans Series has once again underlined its status as sportscar racing's top destination by assembling another sold-out and highly competitive entry list. LMP2 and GT3 remain typically strong, whilst the two Hypercar entries – although modest for the time being – represent a signal of intent amidst ongoing uncertainty across the Middle East that has forced championship organisers to temporarily pivot away from the region. The validity of that decision is clear for all to see in this highly impressive entry list, as well as the other cars Asian Le Mans Series organisers were unable to accommodate.”

<a href="https://www.fiawec.com/umbrella_media/04-2026-2027-asian-le-mans-series-provisional-entry-list-as-at-30-sep-2026-35-xlsx-read-only-6abf7187c1b5b393983569.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CLICK HERE</a> for the full season entry list for the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series.

2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series

<ul><li>Rounds 1 &amp; 2 - 13-15 Nov 2026 - Le Castellet (France)</li>
	<li>Rounds 3 &amp; 4 - 15-17 Jan 2027 - Circuito de Jerez (Spain)</li>
	<li>Rounds 5 &amp; 6 - 19-21 Feb 2027 - Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portugal)</li>
</ul>

Maximum 47-Car Grid for 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series in Europe

24 Heures du Mans 2019

<h3>Team: Gulf Racing</h3>

Class: LMGTE Am

Car:&nbsp;Porsche 911 RSR

Drivers:

<ul>
	<li>Michael Wainwright (5th participation)</li>
	<li>Benjamin Barker (4th&nbsp;participation)</li>
	<li>Thomas Preining (1st&nbsp;participation)</li>
</ul>

This year, Gulf Racing took its fourth start in the 24&nbsp;Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans. Thomas Preining qualified the&nbsp;Porsche 911 RSR in 48th&nbsp;position with a time of&nbsp;3:51.944. In the race, the car was delayed by a gravel trap detour&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Porsche curves, an incident&nbsp;at the Indianapolis corner on Sunday at 06:37 and a three-minute penalty for not respecting a Full Course Yellow procedure. Gulf Racing finished 38th overall and eighth in the&nbsp;LMGTE Am class. In four participations, the team owned by&nbsp;Michael Wainwright has always made it to the chequered flag.

FGA_1924A_D514851.jpg

ACA_1924A_DSC_5037.jpg

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2019, RACE. The #86 Porsche 911 RSR of British&nbsp; team&nbsp;Gulf Racing driven by&nbsp;Michael Wainwright, Benjamin Barker and&nbsp;Thomas Preining.

The 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans for Gulf Racing (LMGTE Am)

Team: Gulf Racing

Related News

ELMS: Portimão is the last chance to claim a title and earn an invitation to Le Mans

Mike Conway to hang up his racing helmet at the end of this season

Tom Kristensen: What the 24 Hours of Le Mans taught me about life

Maximum 47-Car Grid for 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series in Europe

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