Lineups Confirmed in 44-Car Barcelona Entry

Photo: European Le Mans Series

The European Le Mans Series has released the 44-car entry list for the opening round at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, confirming a number of lineups across several classes.

The 4 Hours of Barcelona will be contested by a total of 21 LMP2 cars, with eight of those being entered into the Pro-Am class, as well as 10 LMP3 and 13 LMGT3 entries.

All four title-winning teams from last year return, although LMP2 is set to have a new champion crowned as AO by TF has moved into the LMP2 Pro-Am class.

Notably, former Rebellion LMP1 driver Thomas Laurent will also make his series return in the same class, rejoining the grid after a two-year absence as part of the lineup for the No. 3 DKR Engineering Oreca 07 Gibson.

The Frenchman will share driving duties with Georgios Kolovos and Laurents Hoerr. Laurent’s last ELMS appearance came as part of Muehlner Motorsport LMP2 squad in 2022.

Over the past two years, the Frenchman remained active in a variety of championships, including GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe, the FFSA GT Championship and Ultimate Cup Series.

He also briefly served as reserve driver for the Glickenhaus Hypercar operation in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

DKR is one of the last squads to have its lineup confirmed for the Barcelona season opener, with Proton set to enter the unchanged trio of Giorgio Roda, Rene Binder and Bent Viscaal aboard its No. 77 Oreca.

In LMP3, defending class champions RLR M Sport have opted for a largely unchanged lineup, with the returning duo of Michael Jensen and Nick Adcock joined by Gillian Henrion aboard the No. 15 Ligier JS P325 Toyota.

Henrion moves across from Team Virage after a rookie campaign that saw the Frenchman capture two class victories en route to third in the standings.

Virage, for its part, has opted for an entirely new lineup as Jacek Zielonka teams up with Daniel Nogales and Rik Koen.

Eurointernational and CLX Motorsport, the other two teams to take LMP3 class wins last year, have similarly overhauled their Ligier lineups.

Sebastian Gravlund and Ian Aguilera join Fabien Michal aboard Eurointernational’s No. 11 Ligier, while CLX has signed Paul Lanchere, Adrien Closmenil and Theodor Jensen.

Also of note, Asian Le Mans Series race winner Griffin Peebles joins WTM By Rinaldi Racing to pilot the No. 12 Duqueine D09 Toyota in place of Oscar Tunjo, while DKR has enlisted Antti Rammo, Wyatt Brichacek and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen to drive the No. 4 Ginetta G61-LT-P325-Evo Toyota.

In LMGT3, a small handful of remaining lineups have been confirmed, with Porsche-contracted driver Alessio Picariello joining Proton Competition after a year away.

The Belgian, a two-time GTE champion with the Christian Ried-led squad, will pilot the No. 60 Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside Claudio Schiavoni and Matteo Cressoni.

AF Corse’s No. 52 Ferrari 296 GT3 will feature Ferrari factory driver Davide Rigon teaming up with Charles-Henri Samani and Conrad Laursen, while GR Racing welcomes Thomas Fleming into the lineup for the No. 86 Ferrari.

Fleming, a graduate of Ferrari Challenge, is set for his second season of GT3 racing after debuting in GTWC Europe Sprint Cup last year with AF Corse.

The British racer will team up with team regulars Mike Wainwright and Riccardo Pera.

The 4 Hours of Barcelona will take place on April 6, but will be preceded by the two days of pre-season testing as part of the Prologue, which is held on March 31 and April 1.