What is the European Le Mans Series?
The European Le Mans Series (ELMS) is Europe’s championship for Le Mans prototypes and GT cars. It runs six four-hour races a year on some of the continent’s best-known circuits, and for most of its teams it is a route to one goal: a place on the grid at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Who runs the European Le Mans Series?
The series is affiliated to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the club that organises the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and is promoted by Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM). The same family of rules is used in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Asian Le Mans Series, so cars, driver ratings and race procedures look familiar across all three.
Where and when does the ELMS race?
A season has six rounds of four hours each, from spring to autumn. In 2026 and 2027 the series visits the same six circuits:
| Round | Circuit | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | Spain |
| 2 | Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet | France |
| 3 | Imola | Italy |
| 4 | Spa-Francorchamps | Belgium |
| 5 | Silverstone | Great Britain |
| 6 | Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão | Portugal |
Exact dates and start times are on our ELMS calendar 2026 and ELMS calendar 2027.
Which cars race in the ELMS?
There are four classes, all racing on track at the same time: LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3. The two LMP2 classes use the same prototypes but different driver line-ups. LMP3 is a smaller, cheaper prototype, and LMGT3 is for GT3 cars based on road models. In 2026 the full-season grid counts 47 cars: 11 in LMP2, 12 in LMP2 Pro/Am, 10 in LMP3 and 14 in LMGT3. Each class has its own results, points and titles. Read more in ELMS classes explained.
Who drives in the European Le Mans Series?
Every car is shared by two or three drivers. The grid mixes former Formula 1 and WEC drivers, young professionals on their way up and amateurs, known as Bronze or gentleman drivers, who want to race against the best. The FIA rates every driver Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze, and each class has rules about which ratings a crew must and may include. That keeps professionals and amateurs in balance.
Why does the ELMS matter for Le Mans?
The champions earn automatic invitations to the next 24 Hours of Le Mans. In LMP2 both the champion and the runner-up are invited, and the champions of LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3 receive one each. For many teams that invitation is the main reason to do the season. How the titles are scored is on our page ELMS points and Le Mans invitations.
How is the ELMS different from the WEC?
The FIA World Endurance Championship is the world championship, with Hypercars from manufacturers and LMGT3, and races across several continents, including Le Mans itself. The ELMS sits one step below: no Hypercars, a European calendar, four-hour races and a focus on privateer teams. The series describes itself as the proving ground for the next stages: the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Asian Le Mans Series plays the same role in the winter; in 2026/27 it races in Europe, as our Asian Le Mans Series 2026/27 preview explains.
How does an ELMS race weekend work?
A weekend has two practice sessions, a qualifying session per class and a four-hour race with a rolling start. Drivers have minimum and maximum driving times, and Full Course Yellow periods neutralise the race at 80 km/h. The details are on how a 4-hour ELMS race works.
Follow the series on our European Le Mans Series news page. For the 24-hour race itself, start with our 24H Le Mans knowledge hub.
Sources: European Le Mans Series (series concept, classes and 2026 Sporting Regulations).