European Le Mans - 4 Hours of Portimão

The 4 Hours of Portimão represents the season finale of the European Le Mans Series at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. This endurance race serves as the sixth and final round of the 2026 ELMS championship, organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. The circuit will host this premier motorsport event for the tenth consecutive year, continuing its tradition as the championship's concluding venue.

Race Format and Schedule

The 4 Hours of Portimão challenges teams across a four-hour endurance race. The event weekend features two 90-minute Free Practice sessions and a 30-minute Bronze Test session exclusively for FIA-ranked Bronze drivers. Each of the four categories receives a 15-minute qualifying session to determine starting positions.

Teams must balance speed with tire management and pit strategy throughout the race. Each driver needs to complete a minimum of 40 minutes behind the wheel. The race demands strategic planning as teams navigate traffic and manage their resources over the full distance.

The Portimão Circuit

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve spans 4.653 kilometers and features 15 corners, split between 9 right-hand turns and 6 left-hand turns. Ricardo Pina, Arquitectos designed the circuit, which opened in October 2008.

The track stands out for its dramatic elevation changes that create a roller-coaster effect. This layout combines a 970-meter longest straight with technical corners, offering multiple overtaking opportunities. The circuit holds FIA Grade 1 homologation, allowing it to host top-level motorsport events.

The venue accommodates 100,000 spectators and includes a karting track, an off-road track, a technology park, a five-star hotel, a sports complex, and apartments. Construction of this world-class facility took just seven months at a cost of €195 million.

2026 Entry List and Participants

The 2026 ELMS season features a record 47-car grid across four categories. The field includes 11 LMP2 cars, 12 LMP2 Pro/Am entries, 10 LMP3 cars, and 14 LMGT3 entries.

LMP2 Category

Forestier Racing by Panis, Inter Europol Competition, IDEC Sport with Genesis Magma Racing, Algarve Pro Racing, CLX Motorsport, Proton Competition, United Autosports, Vector Sport, and Nielsen Racing will compete in LMP2. Notable drivers include Jamie Chadwick, Valerio Rinicella, Laurents Hörr, Griffin Peebles, Edward Pearson, Bijoy Garg, Tom Blomqvist, Adrien Closmenil, Theodor Jensen, and Jonas Ried. Hypercar World Champion Antonio Fuoco will make his ELMS debut alongside François Perrodo and Matthieu Vaxivière.

LMP2 Pro/Am Category

AO by TF, AF Corse, Algarve Pro Racing, Vector Sport, DKR, and Rossa Racing by Virage will field entries. Drivers include PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron, Louis Delétraz, François Perrodo, Malthe Jakobsen, Enzo Trulli, Pietro Fittipaldi, Jacob Abel, Jean Glorieux, Marlon Hernandez, John Falb, Manuel Espirito Santo, Rik Koen, and Giorgio Roda.

LMGT3 Category

Kessel Racing will campaign Ferrari 296 GT3 Evos. Racing Spirit of Le Man will field an Aston Martin Vantage AMR LMGT3. Iron Lynx will race a Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 with Sergio Sette Camara, reigning LMGT3 champion Rui Andrade, and Ameerh Naran. Proton Competition and High Class Racing will return with Porsche 911s.

Technical Regulations

The ELMS features four distinct car categories with specific technical rules.

LMP2

LMP2 cars feature carbon monocoque chassis from approved constructors including Dallara, Ligier Automotive, Oreca, or Riley Tech/Multimatic. A Gibson Technology 4-liter V8 engine produces around 600 horsepower. Cosworth Electronics supplies all electronics, and Goodyear provides tires. Driver lineups must include at least one FIA Silver-rated driver.

LMP2 Pro/Am

This class uses identical cars to LMP2. Driver lineups must include at least one FIA Bronze-rated driver and no more than two Platinum drivers. Only the Bronze driver can qualify the car.

LMP3

Oreca serves as the exclusive powertrain supplier for LMP3, providing engine, gearbox, and electronics. Chassis come from Ligier, Duqueine Engineering, Ginetta, and Adess. The Toyota 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine delivers approximately 470 horsepower. Michelin supplies tires for this category.

LMGT3

LMGT3 cars are based on production GT3 models from ACO/FIA-recognized manufacturers. Driver lineups must include a Bronze driver and no more than one Gold or Platinum-rated driver. Goodyear provides tires for LMGT3.

All ELMS cars run on Excellium Racing 100, a renewable biofuel from TotalEnergies. Tire warming equipment is forbidden across all categories.

Racing Heritage at Portimão

Portugal has hosted the ELMS season finale since 2014. The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve began hosting the 4 Hours of Portimão in 2017, taking over from Estoril. The first race at this circuit took place on October 22, 2017.

United Autosports has achieved six victories at Portimão, with four wins in LMP2 and two in LMP3. Proton Competition also holds six victories, mainly in the LMGTE class. Malthe Jakobsen holds an ELMS record with six LMP3 pole positions in a single season and became the first driver to win at Portimão in three different classes: LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, and LMP3.

The Road to Le Mans

The ELMS serves as a vital stepping stone in the global Le Mans racing pyramid. Teams and drivers use this championship to progress to the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Class winners often receive invitations to compete in the legendary French endurance race.

The 4 Hours of Portimão offers teams one final opportunity to claim championship honors. The challenging circuit and varied field across four categories promise close competition. The elevation changes and technical layout demand precision driving and strategic race management from all competitors.