Nine Ligier Teams on the Grid for the 2026 European Le Mans Series
The entry list for the 2026 European Le Mans Series was unveiled by the ELMS on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. For the second consecutive year, and following its 2025 LMP3 title, the Ligier JS P325 stands out as the benchmark of the field, with nine teams selected, up from eight in its first full season in 2025. Among them, two teams already competing in ELMS in 2025 have chosen to switch to Ligier for the 2026 season — a strong signal just one year after the competition debut of Ligier's third-generation LMP3 prototype.
Momentum Confirmed After a First Title in 2025
Introduced to competition in April 2025, the Ligier JS P325 is set to contest its second season in the European Le Mans Series. From its very first year, the third-generation LMP3 prototype performed at the highest level, claiming six wins from six races and securing the LMP3 title with the Ligier #17 of CLX Motorsport, while Ligier cars locked out the top seven positions in the final championship standings.
This collective performance is directly reflected on the 2026 grid. With nine chassis entered, up from eight in 2025, Ligier's presence continues to grow, illustrating the confidence placed in the French manufacturer within one of the world's most demanding endurance championships.
This success is part of a long-term trajectory built in ELMS. Since the arrival of the first-generation LMP3, the Ligier JS P3 in 2016, Ligier has established itself as a reference in the category with four consecutive titles. Introduced in 2020, the Ligier JS P320 extended this momentum with four additional championships. Finally, in its very first season of competition, the Ligier JS P325 confirmed this continuity by claiming the title in 2025. In total, Ligier records nine LMP3 titles in the European Le Mans Series, with only one championship escaping the brand since its entry into the LMP3 category ten years ago.
The Contenders: Continuity and Stability at the Top
Reigning LMP3 champion, CLX Motorsport continues its program with the Ligier JS P325 #17, aiming to defend its title. Alongside them, 2025 vice-champion Team Virage returns with the #8, while Inter Europol Competition, third in the championship last season, fields one of its iconic numbers once again, the #13.
The 2026 Ligier lineup also sees the return of several well-established ELMS teams: Racing Spirit of Léman with the #31, Ultimate with the #35, and M Racing with the #68.
Two New Teams Join the Ligier Family in ELMS.
The 2026 season also marks the arrival of two new teams at the wheel of the Ligier JS P325. Having competed in ELMS in 2025 with two other LMP3 chassis, DKR Engineering, a Luxembourg-based team renowned for its endurance racing experience, and Rinaldi Racing, a well-established German outfit on the international scene, join the Ligier family.
The season opens in Barcelona with the 4 Hours of Barcelona on April 12, 2026.
To view the provisional entry list, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the European Le Mans Series, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for more information about the Ligier JS P325, the third generation of Ligier LMP3
DISCOVER HERE the anniversary limited edition Ligier JS P3X, celebrating 10 years of LMP3 at Ligier Automotive