European Le Mans Series: Pole position, victory and title for the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325
The European Le Mans Series concluded its 2026 season in Portimão on October 9-10, with nine Ligier JS P325s entered and the LMP3 title still up for grabs. CLX Motorsport perfectly controlled the finale, securing pole position before taking victory with the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 of Paul Lanchère, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias. The win gave the team a second consecutive ELMS LMP3 title with the Ligier JS P325. Rinaldi Racing finished second in the race and runner-up in the championship, while DKR Engineering completed the podium.
CLX Motorsport sets the pace from practice
From the first free practice session, CLX Motorsport set the pace with the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325. Louis Iglesias posted the fastest time in 1:39.197, ahead of Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen in the #5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325 and the #13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P325.
The following day, the #17 confirmed its pace with another fastest time from Louis Iglesias in 1:39.652.
Third pole position of the season for the #17
In the final qualifying session of the season, Louis Iglesias was once again the fastest driver at the wheel of the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325.
With a 1:38.835 lap, the French driver secured his third pole position of the season and added a valuable point in the championship battle. He finished 0.289 seconds ahead of Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen in the #5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325.
All-Ligier JS P325 top nine in the finale
On Saturday, October 10, the 2026 season came to an end after an eventful four-hour race.
Starting from pole position, the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325, driven by Paul Lanchère, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias, took victory in Portimão. Iglesias completed the performance by setting the fastest lap of the race in 1:41.007.
Behind them, the #5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325 of José Fernandes Cautela, Alvise Rodella and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen finished second, one lap behind the winners.
DKR Engineering completed the podium with the #4 Ligier JS P325 of Atti Rammo, Romain Favre and Gillian Henrion.
A second consecutive ELMS title for CLX Motorsport and the Ligier JS P325
Thanks to this victory, CLX Motorsport secured the 2026 European Le Mans Series LMP3 title with Paul Lanchère, Alexander Jacoby and Louis Iglesias.
It marks the team's second consecutive ELMS crown with the Ligier JS P325. Earlier in the year, CLX Motorsport had also won the Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 title with the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325.
This latest title gives the Ligier JS P325 its seventh Teams' title since making its competition debut in April 2025.
Rinaldi Racing finished runner-up in the LMP3 championship in its first ELMS campaign with the Ligier JS P325, a result that rewards the team's debut season with Ligier sports prototype in the series.
The 2027 European Le Mans Series season will begin with the Prologue on March 8-9 at the Barcelona circuit.
CLICK HERE for the full results.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Ligier JS P325.
CLICK HERE for more information on the ELMS.
Photo credit: DPPI