The no43 Inter Europol Competition returned to the top step of the ELMS podium for the first time since Le Castellet in 2024 after a dramatic 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps which saw six Safety Car periods in the first half of the race.

After taking their second 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in a row in June and finishing second on the ELMS podium no less than six times in the past two seasons, Jakub Smiechowski, Nick Yelloly and Tom Dillmann were all smiles as they held up their winners&rsquo; trophies, having taken the chequered flag just 3.3 seconds ahead of the no10 Vector Sport Oreca.&nbsp;

However, Pietro Fittipaldi had driven 1m15.791 below the minimum driving time.&nbsp;The no10 Oreca was given a post-race penalty of 1:50.791 sec (<a href="https://www.fiawec.com/umbrella_media/110-decision-no-71-car-10-min-driving-time-6a8b5d7adc732561653849.pdf" target="_blank">Stewards Decision no71</a>), which dropped the car to 17th overall and 9th in LMP2.&nbsp; This promoted the no29 Forestier Racing by Panis Oreca into second place and the no18 IDEC Sport Oreca to third.

GR Racing secured their first ELMS victory since 2015, with Mike Wainwright, Mex Jansen and Lorcan Hanafin winning the LMGT3 category. Hanafin brought the no86 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 home just 2.7 seconds ahead of the no77 Proton Competition Porsche, with the no62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG securing a second podium in a row.

The LMP2 Pro/Am win went to the no83 AF Corse Oreca of Fran&ccedil;ois Perrodo, Antonio Fuoco and Matthieu Vaxiviere. Vaxiviere was battling hard with Louis Del&eacute;traz in the no99 AO by TF Oreca in the final stages of the race when the pair clashed at Les Combes. Del&eacute;traz span off, with Vaxiviere taking to the escape road and was able to keep his lead. The no83 Oreca took the chequered flag 3.3 seconds ahead of Malthe Jakobsen in the no20 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca, with Del&eacute;traz finishing third 5 seconds further back.

The no5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier took the chequered flag in LMP3, with Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen finishing 54 seconds ahead of the rest of the class field. However, a post race penalty led to the car being disqualified due to non compliance with the maximum capacity of the fuel tank (<a href="https://www.fiawec.com/umbrella_media/112-decision-no-76-car-5-disqualification-6a8b5c30ebe3f492928900.pdf" target="_blank">Steward&rsquo;s Decision no76</a>). This promoted the no17 CLX Motorsport Ligier to first place, with the no85 R-ace GP Duqueine in second and the no11 Eurointernational Ligier completing the top three.

<a href="https://www.europeanlemansseries.com/en/page/results" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for the result of the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

<a href="https://www.europeanlemansseries.com/en/page/classification-2" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for the championship positions after 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

Round 5 of the 2026 European Le Mans Series will be the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone, which will take place on Sunday 13 September.

Race Highlights | 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2026 | ELMS

ELMS : les meilleurs moments des 4 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps 2026

ELMS : back to the top step for Inter Europol Competition at Spa-Francorchamps

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

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	<img alt="Tom Kristensen competed in his first marathon" src="/wpphpFichiers/1/1/ressources/Image/actualites/2013/24-heures-du-mans/08/1009708_10153186274330192_26591477_o_n.jpg" style="width: 350px; height: 233px;" />
	
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		Photo : DR / Joest Racing
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	For a charity campaign that promotes a healthy lifestyle to prevent cancer, the nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen competed in his first marathon. At the Copenhagen Ironman, the Audi Sport Team Joest driver contested the running distance as a member of a charity relay and crossed the finish line after 3h 31m03s.

	More info on Joest Raging Fan page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JoestRacing" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/JoestRacing</a>

Tom Kristensen competed in his first marathon

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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

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