24h Le Mans
The third round of the 2026 European Le Mans Series, the 4 Hours of Imola promises exciting confrontations on one of Europe’s most emblematic circuits. The pecking order remains tight as the full 47-car grid, including several 24 Hours of Le Mans winners, prepares for the championship’s Italian fixture.
Having begun the season in Barcelona, then Le Castellet, the European Le Mans Series heads to the Imola circuit in Italy, where every turn is a piece of motorsport history. This Sunday, 5 July, the 47 cars and 139 drivers representing 29 nations will set off for four hours of fiercely intense racing. Fascinating battles are on the cards in all four classes – LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3. The season hangs on a few tactical decisions. The 4 Hours of Imola is another milestone on the road that leads to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans (9–13 June 2027).
>>> Entry list for the 4 Hours of Imola <<<
Two races in, and the battle lines have been drawn. However no team is head and shoulders above the rest. Armed with third place in Barcelona and a victory at Le Castellet, United Autosports goes to Italy as leader of the classification tables.
Inter Europol Competition is just behind. The Polish team is only three points down, and the #43 Oreca 07-Gibson is fresh from an LMP2 class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The trio composed of Jakub Smiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly head to Imola resolved to chalk up another win.
European Le Mans Series title-holder Forestier Racing by Panis rounds off the top three. Having started with a win, the French team lost momentum after retirement at Le Castellet. That said, Esteban Masson, Oliver Gray and Louis Rousset will be boosted with the memory of a successful Imola weekend last year, when Gray and Masson made a significant contribution to the championship campaign.
The jousting is not only for the overall win. In LMP2 Pro/Am, Duqueine Team leads the pack thanks to two podiums, including a win from pole position. Doriane Pin, Richard Vershoor and Italian driver Giorgio Roda have five points in hand over AF Corse going into round 3. The Italian crew of Ferrari Hypercar works driver Antonio Fuoco, François Perrodo and Matthieu Vaxiviere will be racing before a home crowd.
In LMP3 Inter Europol Competition is in first place thanks to excellent driving from Alex Bukhantsov, Chun Ting Chou and Henry Cubides Olarte. Their success at Le Castellet places them nine points ahead of Rinaldi Racing, who will be bent on reiterating their opening round victory.
Competition will be equally fraught in LMGT3. The 14-car field is the largest on the grid, and includes six major manufacturers: Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche. Top of the championship tables for the moment, Kessel Racing and the #57 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo of Takeshi Kimura, Mathys Jaubert and Daniel Serra will be all out to retain their nine-point lead over Proton Competition.
The European Le Mans Series is one of the most prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans feeder series. Season after season, teams and drivers build up experience before facing the challenge of the world’s greatest endurance race.
The 4 Hours of Imola will be streamed live on FIAWEC+, the official ELMS channel. With a FIAWEC+ account, fans can watch the whole race, access replays and highlights.
