44 cars were present at Castellet for the second round of the Michelin Le Mans Cup

The grid for this second round of the Michelin Le Mans The 2026 Cup series promises to be particularly strong, with 44 cars and 88 drivers representing 27 different nationalities. Divided between LMP3 (24 cars), LMP3 Pro/Am (10), and GT3 (10), the field reflects the championship's growing appeal. On the Circuit Paul Ricard, this diversity promises an exciting race, especially since the first round in Barcelona already provided some contrasting insights. The strong French presence—13 cars and 10 drivers—adds an extra dimension, with several teams competing on home soil and aiming for a strong result in front of their fans.

In the premier category, the French teams arrive with a psychological advantage after their triple victory in Barcelona. R-ace GP, winner and third in Spain, will try to confirm their success with an unchanged crew, led by Enzo. Peugeot and Danial Frost in car number 85 and Zack Scoular and Léna Bühler in car number 86. Behind them, 23Events Racing hopes to take a step forward after its inaugural second place, while also entering a second car for its home event.

Several other French teams—ANS Motorsport, Forestier Racing, and M Racing—further strengthen the French field. Facing them, experienced teams like Nielsen Racing and CLX Motorsport intend to challenge their dominance. In such a competitive category, consistency and traffic management will be crucial in this two-hour race.

LMP3 Pro/Am, a battle reignited

In the Pro/Am category, the battle promises to be just as tight with ten cars entered. Bretton Racing arrives as the leader after its victory in Spain, but will have to contend with increased competition, notably from Rinaldi Racing and Racing Spirit of Léman, the only French team in the category. The reigning champions, Eric de Doncker and Gillian Henrion, will be looking to bounce back after a somewhat disappointing start. On home soil, Henrion will be keen to recapture the form he showed last season on this same circuit. The diversity of the driver lineups, some composed entirely of Bronze-rated drivers, could also shake things up, particularly in terms of strategic management and consistency over the long haul.

In GT3, the duel looks particularly open despite Racing Spirit of Léman's victory in Barcelona. Valentin Hasse-Clot and Philipp Sager arrive as leaders, but will have to contend with stiff and experienced competition. Porsche from Dinamic GT, the McLaren from SMC Motorsport and especially the numerous Classic Ferrari for sale The 296 entries—five in total—represent just as many credible threats. AF Corse, the reigning champion, will be looking to bounce back after a quiet start to the season. Balanced performances and well-managed driver changes will be crucial in a category where the gaps are traditionally very close.

After an already informative opening round, this race at Le Castellet represents a first turning point in the season. Friday's practice sessions will allow drivers to fine-tune their setups before a crucial qualifying session on a circuit where track position remains decisive. For the Le Mans Cup, this second event could already begin to reveal some trends—without, however, solidifying a still-fragile hierarchy. Between local ambitions and international competition, all the ingredients are there for a thrilling race on the French Riviera.

See the list of participants below:

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