24h Le Mans
The 2025 season of the European Le Mans Series is shaping up to be one of the most competitive ever with a bumper 44-strong grid featuring no fewer than ten manufacturers. Fascinating battles are in store for the continent’s most iconic circuits!
Forty-four cars will line up for the forthcoming season of the European Le Mans Series – one more than in 2024. The grid will comprise 14 LMP2s, seven entries in the LMP2 Pro/Am class, 10 LMP3s and 13 LMGT3s.
In the LMP2 class, reigning champions Ao by TF will be back to defend their title. IDEC Sport, Inter Europol Competition, United Autosports, Nielsen Racing and Algarve Pro Racing will be doubling up this season by fielding two Oreca 07-Gibsons. The influx is a sign of the ELMS’ growing attraction for young talent who have learned the ropes in single-seaters. AF Corse, the 2024 LMP2 Pro/Am champions, will also be looking to retain their crown.
The LMP3 class will see the introduction of the third generation of these prototypes. The new cars will be driven by a 470-hp Toyota V35A V6 twin-turbo engine which promises a step-up in performance over the former Nissan unit. The LMP3 grid will be dominated by eight Ligier JS P325s, but the addition of a Duqueine D09 and a Ginetta G61-LT-P325-EVO to the mix will bring a touch of technical diversity.
Equally fierce battles await in the LMGT3 class with an impressive array of carmakers in the field. Customer teams of Aston Martin (Racing Spirit of Léman), Corvette (TF Sport), Ferrari (Richard Mille AF Corse, AF Corse, Spirit Of Race, Kessel Racing, JMW Motorsport and GR Racing), Mercedes-AMG (Iron Lynx), McLaren (United Autosports) and Porsche (Proton Competition and Iron Dames) will all be itching to come out on top. Four female drivers are set to take the wheel in this class, including Lilou Wadoux who will line up for Richard Mille AF Corse in a Ferrari 296 LMGT3 and the Iron Dames trio of Célia Martin, Sarah Bovy and Michelle Gatting in a Porsche 911 GT3 R.
The provisional entry list also comprises three reserve teams, ready to seize the opportunity in case of a withdrawal. They are LMP2 Pro/Am outfit High Class Racing, and ANS Motorsport and R-ace GP in LMP3.
Pierre Fillon, President, Automobile Club de l’Ouest: The ELMS boasts a record 44-car grid for 2025 – the maximum capacity. Next year's championship is wide open and promises to be hotly disputed, especially with drivers like Jamie Chadwick, Charles Milesi and Fabio Scherer in the mix. Europe's most awe-inspiring circuits form the backdrop to the season, with the Silverstone round a highlight to look forward to. See you in Barcelona in April for the kick-off.
Frédéric Lequien, General Manager, Le Mans Endurance Management: The 2025 European Le Mans Series grid will be the biggest for many a year. We are delighted to see this championship continue to thrive and attract the world’s top teams and drivers. This season will also see Mercedes-AMG make their ELMS début while McLaren will be back for the first time since 2014. We shall also have a Corvette on the grid after a seven-year break. With six manufacturers in LMGT3, 2025 promises to be an excellent vintage for the ELMS. Once again, the LMP2 stands out with a formidable 21-car field, including seven Pro/Ams. The LMP3 category featuring new Ligier, Duqueine and Ginetta prototypes powered by Toyota engines will continue to offer an excellent introduction to Le Mans Prototype multi-class racing for beginners and seasoned racers. We extend a warm welcome to the teams and drivers returning to the ELMS and to those set to make their championship début in Barcelona. We are greatly looking forward to April’s curtain-raiser there and an action-packed season.
The season will kick off with the official pre-season tests on 31 March and 1 April at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the opening round – the 4 Hours of Barcelona – held at the same venue on 6 April. With such a stunning, bumper grid, the 2025 European Le Mans season promises to satisfy the appetite of the growing hordes of endurance fans in Europe.
