How ELMS points and Le Mans invitations work

Alpine A424 Hypercar at speed during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, reflecting the momentum behind Alpine sets WEC Sao Paulo FP3 pace. — The Alpine A424 Hypercar charges through the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, showcasing the confidence and form seen in Alpine sets WEC Sao Paulo FP3 pace. © Alpine / FIA WEC

Every European Le Mans Series race is scored separately in each of the four classes. A class win is worth 25 points, pole position in the class adds one, and at the end of six rounds the champions in each class win prize money and an invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

How many points are there for each position?

Points go to the top ten in each class, to the team and to every driver in the crew:

Class position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Points	25	18	15	12	10	8	6	4	2	1

One extra point goes to the team and drivers of the car that takes pole position in each class. A perfect weekend is therefore worth 26 points.

Who can score points?

Only cars on the official season entry list score points for the titles. Extra cars entered for a single round keep their place in the race result, but are invisible in the points tables. A driver who has driven less than 40 minutes in total does not score points in the series, on top of any penalty.

What happens if a race is stopped early?

If the race is suspended and cannot be resumed, the points depend on how far it got. If the leader has completed fewer than two laps outside Full Course Yellow or Safety Car periods, no points are awarded. If the leader has done more than two laps but less than 75 percent of the scheduled race time, half points are awarded. Above 75 percent, full points count.

Which titles are there?

Each class has a teams’ title and a drivers’ title, so the ELMS crowns eight champions a season: teams and drivers in LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3. Drivers from different crews who finish level on points are separated by the tie-break rules in the regulations.

Who gets an invitation to Le Mans?

The invitations are the prize most teams race for:

Class	Invited to the next 24 Hours of Le Mans
LMP2	Champion and runner-up
LMP2 Pro/Am	Champion
LMP3	Champion, invited to race in LMP2
LMGT3	Champion

The invitations are granted under the conditions set out in the regulations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Is there prize money in the ELMS?

Yes. For 2026 the regulations list 100,000 euros for the LMP2 champions, 70,000 euros in LMGT3 and 50,000 euros each in LMP2 Pro/Am and LMP3. Every class win at a race is worth 5,000 euros. To qualify for prize money, a team must be entered for the season and take part in every race on the calendar.

What does that mean for a title fight?

With 26 points available per round, a lead of more than 26 points before the finale settles a title. Below that, the maths starts: at Portimão in 2026, for example, a second place was enough for the LMP3 leaders, while the LMGT3 runner-up could win the title with a victory. See our Portimão 2026 title preview.

Back to the overview: what is the European Le Mans Series? Or read ELMS classes explained.

Source: European Le Mans Series, 2026 Sporting Regulations (article 15) and series concept page.