New livery for Proton
Proton Competition’s #77 Porsche 911 LMGT3 R (992.2) is sporting a new livery for this weekend, with its previously pink highlighting replaced by yellow.
The yellow-and-black design will be familiar to fans of Super GT, where it is run by seven x seven racing. The livery also appeared on Proton’s #9 ORECA 07 – Gibson LMP2 at Le Mans.
Seven x seven racing’s team owner ‘Bankcy’ piloted the #77 Porsche in the opening two rounds of this year, before an injury forced him to curtail his season.
Martin Berry, Huub van Eijndhoven and Harry King are therefore set to see out the campaign in the entry, although King has been replaced by home driver Alessio Picariello for this weekend due to a clash with his IMSA Sportscar Championship commitments.
Goodyear predicting high tyre wear
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is one of the hardest venues on tyres on the ELMS calendar, and with it also a very familiar track for teams, Goodyear is expecting minimal variation on tyre strategy this weekend, especially in the LMGT3 category where the number of slick tyres is not restricted.
“Spa-Francorchamps is a circuit that teams know well, and each category has built a strong understanding of their Goodyear Racing Eagle Medium tyres,” said Stephen Bickley, Goodyear endurance programme manager.
“That means we expect strategies to be fairly uniform across the field, with teams likely to focus on maximising performance with fresh tyres at each stop. LMP2 could offer a little more variation depending on how teams choose to manage the race.”
“The circuit places high loads on tyres, particularly through Eau Rouge and Raidillon, and with slightly warmer conditions than we saw here in May [for the FIA WEC event], we could see a little more degradation if it stays dry. If conditions do turn wet, teams can rely on the Goodyear Racing Eagle Wet tyre as a proven solution.”
The chance of the Eagle Wet being depended upon this weekend appears high, with rain forecast throughout the meeting. Teams have already had their first taste of wet conditions after multiple showers impacted yesterday’s private test session.
DeDecker hoping “for a win” on home turf
Amongst the Belgian drivers participating in their home race this weekend, Eurointernational’s Douwe DeDecker is lining up in the BWT-branded #11 Ligier JS P325 – Toyota LMP3.
The 18-year-old is hoping that the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will kickstart Eurointernational’s season, with the Italian squad still chasing its first podium finish of the campaign despite showing promising pace so far this year.
“Last year I was quite good at this track,” an optimistic DeDecker told DSC.
“I have a very good feeling. We’ve had some bad luck this season so far, but I’m sure we’ll give everything, and I think we will do good. Let’s hope for a win here, I think it’s possible.”
DeDecker, who is in his second year of ELMS competition, believes that returning to the same car, series and circuits this season has helped him to progress as driver, after finding his rookie year “a little bit tough”.
“I think it’s helped me a lot, especially during race runs,” he said. “Last year was quite a difficult year for me because a lot of people were quite a bit older than me.
“I’m now getting more experienced. I think I need to improve some more points, [but] I still have plenty of time this season.”
García makes prototype debut in Ligier European Series
In the Ligier European Series, Marta García is making her first racing start of 2026, and also her first in a prototype, as part of a strong 29-car grid.
The 2023 F1 Academy winner has spent this year on the sidelines, as one of several pilots who has struggled to secure drives following the downsizing of the Iron Dames project, but has joined Petrogold for this weekend’s round.
García will race the #33 JS P4 alongside Briton Scott Marsh, as she takes the next step towards her publicly declared goal of participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“Some opportunities mean more than just a race,” García said.
“Ever since Le Mans became a real goal in my mind, I knew every step mattered. Every experience, every category, every opportunity to keep learning and growing as a driver. It feels like one of those moments that remind you why you keep pushing, why you keep believing, and why you never stop chasing the bigger dream.
“Le Mans is still the objective, and this is another important step in that direction.”
Updated Le Mans Cup entry
An updated version of the entry list for this weekend’s Le Mans Cup round has been released, revealing multiple changes to the field.
In LMP3, the #7 Nielsen Racing Duqueine D09 – Toyota has been withdrawn, whilst there has been a change of driver aboard Inter Europol Competition’s #43 Ligier JS P325.
Jonathan Woolridge is set to make his Le Mans Cup debut with the Polish squad, in place of William Karlsson. Canadian Woolridge, a race winner in LMP3 in IMSA’s VP Racing SportsCar Challenge last season, is currently the test and development driver for IMSA LMP2 squad Bryan Herta Autosport.
It’s a dramatic change of scenery for Woolridge, who last weekend was making his debut in another championship – the NASCAR Canada Series at the Markham Street Circuit!
And in GT3, Pascal Huteau and Viny Beltramelli will share the #11 Code Racing Development Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo.
47-year-old Huteau made his Le Mans Cup debut with the French squad last season at the Portimao finale, and is currently racing with the team in FFSA GT.
Silver-ranked Beltrameilli, meanwhile, has become a regular in GT4 competition over the past few years, this season competing in both FFSA GT and the GT4 European Series. This weekend will be his GT3 debut.
The pair have replaced Sebastian Moreno in the #11 Aston Martin. Moreno was listed without a co-driver on the first version of the entry list.
Images courtesy of David Lord, Iron Dames and Jonathan Woolridge
