All 47 full-season European Le Mans Series entries are set to contest next weekend’s 4 Hours of Silverstone, although multiple driver changes have been made ahead of the penultimate round of the season.
Only the 11-car LMP2 grid is unchanged, as Forestier Racing by Panis’ #29 ORECA and United Autosports’ #22 ORECA continue their battle for supremacy.
The pair are currently tied in the championship lead on 70 points, with the French squad ahead courtesy of having won an additional race. The defending winner at Silverstone, the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Programme-backed #18 IDEC Sport ORECA, could also claim the championship lead in Northamptonshire, with it currently sitting 18 points back.
In LMP2 Pro/Am, Maceo Capietto will make his second start of the season aboard the #3 DKR Engineering ORECA. The Frenchman previously raced at Imola, but his seat was filled by Porsche factory driver Julien Andlauer last time out at Spa-Francorchamps.
The 12-car LMP2 Pro/Am field also features a tie for the championship lead, this time between the #20 Algarve Pro Racing and #83 AF Corse ORECAs, as well as a tie for third, with both the #7 Vector Sport and #30 Duqueine Team efforts sitting just 12 points in arrears.
In LMP3, Ralph Meichtry and Lenny Ried are set to compete as a duo aboard Racing Spirit of Leman’s #31 Ligier for the first time this season, with Grégory de Sybourg absent.
Stéphane Tribaudini, meanwhile, is making his first start of the season aboard the #68 M Racing Ligier he raced full-time last year, with the Frenchman replacing Thomas Imbourg.
Defending champion CLX Motorsport has surged to the top of the LMP3 standings following back-to-back wins, and its #17 Ligier has a 15-point advantage over the #85 R-ace GP Duqueine heading to Silverstone.
The bulk of changes to the entry list have occurred in the 14-car LMGT3 field.
At High Class Racing, Benjamin Paque will make his ELMS debut. This year’s Dubai 24 hours pole sitter is replacing Anders Fjordbach, who is instead competing at the clashing Suzuka 1000KM.
Also at Suzuka is Maxime Martin, with the Belgian’s seat in the #62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG being taken by fellow works driver, and another ELMS debutant, Ralf Aron.
Two drivers are returning to the ELMS having missed the 4H Spa-Francorchamps due to their IMSA Sportscar Championship commitments. Harry King is back in the #77 Proton Competition Porsche, whilst Valentin Hasse-Clot returns to the #59 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin.
Hasse-Clot will share the #59 Vantage AMR LMGT3 with Marius Fossard and Francois Hériau, with the latter making his first ELMS start since a one-off appearance aboard an Ultimate-run Ligier LMP3 in the 2024 season finale at Portimao.
The LMGT3 title fight is still wide open with two races to go, with only seven points covering the top five entries and all 14 runners still in mathematical contention.
The #75 Proton Competition Porsche currently leads by a single point over the #33 TF Sport Corvette, with the #62 Mercedes-AMG, #77 Porsche and #86 GR Racing Ferrari all closely in arrears.
The 2026 4 Hours of Silverstone will be held on the weekend of 11th to 13th September 2026. The event will also feature the return of the ELMS Charity Run, in support of the Luca Guintoli Foundation, on the Friday evening.
Image courtesy of David Lord
