Prototype Cup Europe: Victories for Allay Racing and GMS Team at Monza
The third round of the Prototype Cup Europe took place on August 1-2, 2026, at Monza in Italy. The Ligier JS P325s were at the forefront throughout the weekend, securing two pole positions and two victories. In Race 1, Allay Racing claimed its first overall win in the championship with the #48 Allay Racing Ligier JS P325 of Emil Hellberg, ahead of the #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325. In Race 2, GMS Team took victory with the #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325 of Danny Soufi and Valentino Catalano, with Catalano moving into the lead of the provisional standings. Emil Hellberg returned to the podium and continued his perfect run in the Trophy Championship.
GMS Team on pole position for Race 1
On Saturday, August 1, the first qualifying session was decided in the closing moments. At the wheel of the #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325, Valentino Catalano set a 1:43.607 lap to secure pole position.
Race 1: First victory for Allay Racing
Starting from fifth, Emil Hellberg stayed in touch with the leading group during the first half of the race in the #48 Allay Racing Ligier JS P325. Thanks to a well-executed strategy and a shorter mandatory pit stop due to his Bronze driver status, the Swede emerged in the lead ahead of Danny Soufi, who had taken over from Valentino Catalano in the #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325.
The closing minutes delivered an intense battle between the two Ligier JS P325s. Soufi launched repeated attacks, but Hellberg held on all the way to the checkered flag to claim his first overall Prototype Cup Europe victory. It was also Allay Racing's first win in the championship.
“It was really fun, really intense, but difficult,” explained Emil Hellberg. “There were about 15 minutes left when I came out of the pits. I saw Danny Soufi in the mirror and thought: this is going to be tough, but I'm going to give it everything!”
Danny Soufi and Valentino Catalano finished second in the #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325. Theo Micouris set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:44.392 in the #74 Team Virage Ligier JS P325. Linus Hellberg completed the top six in the #43 Allay Racing Ligier JS P325.
With his overall victory, Emil Hellberg also won the Trophy category, while Valentino Catalano took the Junior win.
Another pole position for GMS Team
On Sunday, August 2, GMS Team confirmed its pace in qualifying. At the wheel of the #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325, Danny Soufi delivered a decisive final lap in 1:43.918 to secure pole position for Race 2.
Race 2: GMS Team takes control.
In Race 2, Danny Soufi maintained the lead at the start in the #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325 and quickly opened up a gap. Behind him, Emil Hellberg made an excellent start from sixth and moved up to second on the opening lap in the #48 Allay Racing Ligier JS P325.
After the mandatory pit stops, Valentino Catalano took over from Soufi. The #11 GMS Team Ligier JS P325 rejoined behind the #48 Allay Racing Ligier JS P325, but a penalty handed to Emil Hellberg for his pit stop allowed Catalano to retake the lead. The GMS Team driver went on to win by 11.5 seconds, securing his and Danny Soufi's second victory of the season.
Emil Hellberg finished second overall and returned to the podium in the #48 Allay Racing Ligier JS P325. He also continued his perfect run in the Trophy Championship with a sixth win in six races in the category.
The #3 Aust Motorsport Ligier JS P325, shared by Maxim Dirickx and Nigel Moore, finished third. With this victory, Valentino Catalano moved into the lead of the Prototype Cup Europe provisional standings, while GMS Team took first place in the Teams' Championship. Catalano also won the Junior category in both races over the weekend.
Next stop: the Spa-Francorchamps finale
After Monza, the Prototype Cup Europe will head to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium for the final two races of the 2026 season. Testing will take place on Thursday, September 3, followed by qualifying and both races on Friday, September 4.
CLICK HERE to have more information on the Ligier JS P325, the third generation of Ligier LMP3.
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Photo credit: Prototype Cup Europe