Seasonal Kickoff: 47 Cars Set for Championship Battle
The motorsport season is poised to commence with a robust starting grid of 47 cars, following the withdrawal of the #41 Phantom Global Porsche due to driver availability issues. This year’s lineup features 16 LMP2, 10 LMP3, and 21 GT3 cars, promising a competitive environment across all categories.
Entry List Updates
Several notable adjustments have been made to the entry list. In the LMP2 category, Bernardo Sousa joins the #22 Proton Competition Oreca, complementing an experienced crew that includes Jones Ried and Felipe Laser.
In a further development, Team Virage has bolstered both their entries with third drivers: Team Principal Julien Gerbi pairs with Ajith Kumar and Marian Karthikeyan in the #1 Ligier, while Aditya Patel teams with Vic Stevens and Romain Vozniak in the sister #8 Ligier.
United Autosports has finalized their #59 McLaren lineup with Garnet Patterson and Mark Rosser joining Wayne Boyd. Moreover, the #89 EBM Aston Martin will now have Martin Berry and Matisse Lismont share driving duties with Jamie Day, after Marco Sorensen pulls out of the Sepang race.
DKR Engineering’s Oreca Upgrade
Heightened excitement surrounds DKR Engineering as they unveil their new Oreca chassis #140, upgrading from their previously-utilized, older chassis #05. Team Principal Kendy Janclaes stated, “We have moved from having the oldest car in the race to the very newest.”
Family Dynamics in the Field
Among intriguing storylines, the grid includes two father-son pairs: Gregory and Carl Bennett in the #50 Ferrari, and Horst with Horst Felix Felbermayr in their #88 Proton Competition Oreca. Additionally, there are multiple sibling pairings competing, including the Ried brothers in #22 and #26 Ligiers, as well as Lorenzo and Lucas Fluxa across the Proton and Bretton entries.
TCR to LMP2 Transition
Yann Ehrlacher, reigning TCR World Tour Champion, is set to make his LMP2 debut in the #44 ARC Bratislava Oreca, marking a significant transition from touring cars.
Upcoming ELMS Announcement
Anticipation builds for the 2026 European Le Mans Series entry list, set to be released on December 17. Teams are preparing for potential shifts as current squads may reassess driver lineups, with entries from RD Limited and High Class Racing especially keen topics of speculation.
In summary, the stage is set for a highly competitive season across diverse categories in motorsport, with teams and drivers eagerly eyeing both immediate success and future developments.
