The 4 2026 Hours of Barcelona program

The kick-off of the 2026 European season Le Mans Series (ELMSThe season kicks off this weekend, April 10-12, with the 4 Hours of Barcelona, ​​the first round of a championship that will run until October with a total of six races. Held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, this opening race follows the official tests held on the same track, allowing teams to fine-tune their setups before what promises to be a particularly competitive season with 47 cars entered.

In LMP2, Forestier Racing by Panis enters 2026 as the benchmark after a 2025 season marked by three major victories and decisive consistency in their quest for the title. In LMP2 Pro/Am, AO by TF established itself as the team to beat thanks to exemplary race management throughout the year, securing one win but four other podium finishes. In LMP3, CLX Motorsport dominated the category with five wins in six races, while in LMGT3, the TF Sport crew emerged victorious with two wins and 78 points. These benchmarks now serve as a point of comparison for judging the ambitions of the competitors.

The French pilots present in Barcelona

Among the 2026 entrants, several crews including French drivers are worth watching closely from this opening round. In LMP2, nine drivers from France will be present, including Paul-Loup Chatin and Paul Lafargue (IDEC Sport), Vladislav Lomko (Vector Sport), Tristan Vautier (Algarve Pro Racing), Louis Rousset and Esteban Masson (Forestier Racing by Panis), Adrien Closmenil (CLX Motorsport), Reshad De Gerus and Tom Dillmann (Inter Europol Competition), in cars #34 and #43 respectively. In the Pro/Am category, there are six French representatives: Marlon Hernandez (DKR Engineering), Sami Meguetounif (TDS Racing), Dorian Pin (Duqueine Team), Charles Milesi (CLX Motorsport), François Perrodo and Matthieu Vaxiviere (AF Corse).

In LMP3, the French contingent is also well represented with six drivers: Romain Favre (DKR Engineering), Louis Stern (Team Virage), Paul Lanchere (CLX Motorsport), Fabien Michal (R-ace GP), and Quentin Antonel and Thomas Imbourg at M Racing. Finally, in LMGT3, seven French drivers will be present: Charles-Henri Samani (AF Corse), Michael Wainwright (GR Racing), Mathys Jaubert and Romain Leroux at Kessel Racing in cars #57 and #74 respectively, and Clément Mateu, Marius Fossard, and Valentin Hasse Clot for an all-French crew at Racing Spirit of Léman.

Find the list of entrants for the 4 Hours of Barcelona HERE

4 Hours of Barcelona
The weekend program

Friday, April 10
11h50-13h20: Free Trials 1

Saturday, April 11
10h10-11h40: Free Trials 2
15h05-15h20: LMGT3 Qualifications
15h30-15h45: LMP3 Qualifying
15h55-16h10: LMP2 Pro/Am Qualifying
16h20-16h35: LMP2 Qualifying

Sunday, April 12
12h00-16h00: Course

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