European Le Mans Series: CLX Motorsport retains the LMP3 championship lead after Silverstone.
The fifth round of the European Le Mans Series took place on September 12-13, 2026, at Silverstone in the United Kingdom. After securing LMP3 pole position with the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325, CLX Motorsport finished second at the end of a race marked by changing weather conditions and several neutralizations. Inter Europol Competition completed the podium with the #13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P325, while Eurointernational set the fastest lap of the race with the #11. Ahead of the season finale in Portimão, CLX Motorsport remains at the top of the provisional LMP3 standings.
CLX Motorsport on pole position
On Saturday, September 12, qualifying took place on the British circuit. The defending champion team, CLX Motorsport, secured LMP3 pole position with the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325. At the wheel, Louis Iglesias set a 1:53.213 lap to claim his second pole position of the season.
The following morning, the competitors took the start on a damp track after overnight rain, although the circuit had begun to dry by the time the race got underway. Paul Lanchère led the LMP3 field in the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325, but soon came under pressure from Matthew Bell in the #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P325. The British driver found a way through on the inside at The Loop and took the class lead.
A race disrupted by the weather
During the second hour of the race, rain returned to Silverstone. Conditions became increasingly difficult and a Virtual Safety Car was deployed to allow several cars that had gone off track to be recovered.
The neutralization then continued under Safety Car conditions for nearly 25 minutes. At the restart, Alexander Jacoby led the LMP3 category in the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 before losing control of the car. He went off track and dropped several positions.
The closing stages were again punctuated by several Full Course Yellow periods, with conditions remaining tricky.
Double podium for the Ligier JS P325s
At the checkered flag, the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 finished second in the LMP3 category, 14 seconds behind the race winner. With this podium, Paul Lanchère, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias scored valuable points in the championship battle.
The #13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P325, driven by A. Bukhantsov, H. Cubides Olarte and C. Chou, completed the podium.
Eurointernational also stood out with the #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P325, as Matthew Bell set the fastest lap of the race in 1:56.647.
Next stop: the Portimão finale
With this second-place finish at Silverstone, CLX Motorsport retains the lead in the provisional LMP3 standings ahead of the final round of the season. The 2026 European Le Mans Series finale will take place on Saturday, October 10, at Portimão in Portugal.
CLICK HERE for the full results.
CLICK HERE to find out more about the European Le Mans Series.
CLICK HERE to have more information on the Ligier JS P325, the third generation of Ligier LMP3.
Photo credit: DPPI