2026 European Le Mans Series Report: Portimão Paddock Insights
As the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) heads into its finale at Portimão, key narratives emerge from the paddock as teams and drivers prepare for a critical race weekend.
Vaxiviere Targets LMP2 Pro/Am Title
Matthieu Vaxiviere leads the charge for a record-extending third LMP2 Pro/Am title alongside François Perrodo and Antonio Fuoco in the #83 AF Corse ORECA 07 – Gibson. Entering the weekend at the top of a tightly contested standings, the trio’s campaign is overshadowed by early technical issues. “It’s been complicated for us at the moment because we have some issues with the engine and car,” Vaxiviere stated. Acknowledging the competition, he added, “There are realistically four cars to fight for the title. We need a bit of luck and we’ll try to put everything together.”
Traffic Management Critical for LMGT3 Race
In the LMGT3 category, championship leader Julian Hanses anticipates a challenging affair at Portimão involving meticulous traffic management. The driver of the #62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG emphasized the importance of predictability during the race: “It’s going to be chaotic. The most important thing for us is to drive predictably so that faster cars know where to pass.”
Henrion Aims for Michelin Le Mans Cup Title Defense
Gillian Henrion seeks to defend his Michelin Le Mans Cup LMP3 Pro/Am title alongside Eric De Doncker. Leading the class by 14 points with their #98 Motorsport98 Ligier JS P325 – Toyota, Henrion is focused on maintaining composure: “If we need to finish fourth to win the championship, we’ll not take any risks.” Securing this title would enable a potential step up to ELMS with Motorsport98.
VSF Celebrates Championship Success
In a celebratory nod to success, VSF Sports debuted a gold livery for their #41 Ligier JS2 R, commemorating their 2026 JS2 R Drivers’ and Teams’ championships. This gesture coincides with tributes for co-founder Dominique Peyrache.
Ligier European Series Race 1 Highlights
Race 1 of the Ligier European Series saw August Therbo secure his first victory this season in the #57 Ligier. Following penalties for competitors, Therbo won by a 10.257-second margin, positioning him well for the title chase despite being 18 points behind in the standings. The title battles remain tight as leaders setup for the deciding race.
Additional Notes
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Starter Announcement: Portuguese TV presenter Filomena Cautela will wave the green flag for Saturday’s race, adding local flavor to the event.
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Broadcast Information: The ELMS race will be broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK and available globally without geo-restrictions on FIAWEC+.
As the weekend unfolds, drivers and teams brace for intense competition, with both strategy and execution key to success at Portimão.
