European Le Mans Series: Rinaldi Racing’s Ligier JS P325 #5 wins the LMP3 class in Barcelona.
The 2026 European Le Mans Series season got underway with a Ligier victory in LMP3 on April 12, 2026. At the end of the opening race of the year at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Rinaldi Racing's Ligier JS P325 #5, driven by José Fernandez-Cautela, Alvise Rodella and Mikkel Pedersen, won the LMP3 class.
Inter Europol Competition's Ligier JS P325 #13, driven by Alexander Bukhantsov, Henry Cubides-Olarte and Chun Ting Chou, completed the podium in third place.
Nine Ligier JS P325s on the grid for the 2026 ELMS season opener
For this 23rd season, 47 cars were entered, including ten in the LMP3 class. Among them, nine Ligier JS P325s took the start of the first race of the year.
The Ligier JS P325s were immediately at the sharp end during the Official Tests. On the 4.657-kilometer Catalan circuit, the #4 DKR Engineering car, with the team having switched chassis to Ligier, topped the first morning session with Wyatt Brichacek in 1:38.476. Team Virage's #8, with Daniel Nogales, then set the benchmark in the second session in 1:37.688. In the session reserved for LMP3 and GT3 cars, Bruno Ribeiro put CLX Motorsport's Ligier JS P325 #17 at the top of the class in 1:38.179.
The Ligier JS P325s confirm their pace in free practice.
The race weekend began in the same vein as the Official Tests. In the first free practice session, Henry Cubides-Olarte stood out behind the wheel of Inter Europol Competition's Ligier JS P325 #13. The Colombian, who competed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup and Asian Le Mans Series in 2025, led the LMP3 field by nearly six tenths of a second.
Eurointernational's #11 confirmed its form in the second free practice session. Max Van Der Snel posted a best lap of 1:40.465, putting the Ligier JS P325 #11 at the top of the class. Five Ligier JS P325s locked out the LMP3 top five, covered by less than five tenths of a second.
Team Virage on the front row
In qualifying, Daniel Nogales placed the #8 Team Virage Ligier JS P325 on the front row with a lap in 1:37.451. Henry Cubides-Olarte, at the wheel of Inter Europol Competition's #13, had provisionally claimed pole position in 1:37.227, but his lap time was deleted.
A hectic start to the race
The start was marked by an incident in the very first corner. Three Ligier JS P325s were involved in a collision: DKR Engineering's #4, driven by Antti Rammo, CLX Motorsport's #17, in the hands of Paul Lanchère, and M Racing's #68, driven by Nick Adcock. Race control brought out the red flag.
After an interruption of around 30 minutes, the race resumed behind the Safety Car. The green flag waved at 12:35 p.m., with the track at 22°C. CLX Motorsport and DKR Engineering managed to repair the #17 and #4 Ligier JS P325s, allowing both cars to rejoin the race.
Eurointernational and Inter Europol Competition move to the front.
At the restart, Matt Bell made an excellent start in the #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P325. The British driver gained four positions and moved up to second place. He then set the provisional fastest LMP3 race lap in 1:40.030.
Shortly before half-distance, Louis Stern, at the wheel of the #8 Team Virage Ligier JS P325, ran wide before the main straight, went through the gravel and dropped to sixth place.
At mid-race, before the pit stop and driver change sequence, the #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P325 was still running second with Matt Bell. Behind him, Alexander Bukhantsov was making a strong recovery in the #13 nter Europol Competition Ligier JS P325, having gained seven positions since the start.
Eurointernational then took advantage of a Full Course Yellow. The Ligier JS P325 #11 emerged in the lead in the hands of Belgian driver Douwe Dedecker.
Rinaldi Racing takes the lead in the final hour.
With 40 minutes remaining, an effective pit stop strategy allowed the #5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325 to take the lead in the LMP3 class. Mikkel Pedersen moved to the front and resisted the pressure from his rivals.
With 15 minutes to go before the checkered flag, the Danish driver held a 13-second lead. He maintained first place all the way to the finish, giving Rinaldi Racing the first LMP3 victory of the 2026 European Le Mans Series season.
First 2026 ELMS victory for the Ligier JS P325
The #5 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325, shared by José Fernandez-Cautela, Alvise Rodella and Mikkel Pedersen, won the first LMP3 race of the 2026 ELMS season. It was a landmark success for the Italian team, which claimed its first victory in its first season racing with a Ligier in the championship.
The #13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P325, driven by Alexander Bukhantsov, Henry Cubides-Olarte and Chun Ting Chou, also finished on the podium in third place. The #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P325 finished just off the podium after receiving a penalty late in the race, while the #8 Team Virage Ligier JS P325 completed the top five.
The second round of the 2026 European Le Mans Series will take place at Le Castellet, France, on May 2.
To learn more about the ELMS championship, CLICK HERE.
For more information about the Ligier JS P325, CLICK HERE.
photo credit: DPPI