Record-Breaking 44 Cars on Full Season Entry List

Photo: MPS Agency

A total of 44 cars are set to contest next year’s European Le Mans Series season, following the release of the full season entry list on Tuesday.

Comprising 14 LMP2 cars, seven entries in LMP2 Pro-Am, ten new LMP3 machines and 13 LMGT3 cars, it compares to a grid of 43 entries that took part in the most recent campaign.

LMP2 sees a combined 21 entries — all Oreca 07 Gibsons — across the two classes, with reigning outright champions AO by TF stepping into the Pro-Am subclass for next year with PJ Hyett as its first nominated driver.

Former series champions IDEC Sport, which is rumored to have a link-up with the new Genesis LMDh project, will run two cars in the top class for the first time, with three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick named as the first driver for the French squad.

CLX Motorsport, formerly known as Cool Racing, will field two cars, including one for reigning FIA World Endurance LMGT3 Champion Alex Malykhin under the CLX – Pure Rxcing banner.

Inter Europol Competition returns to a two-car operation, with Panis Racing re-badged as VDS Panis Racing with a single-car effort featuring Alpine WEC driver Charles Milesi.

Race winners Iron Lynx – Proton will continue with a single Oreca in LMP2, along with DKR Engineering and Vector Sport.

Proton, Nielsen, Algarve Pro Racing and United Autosports will have entries in both LMP2 and LMP2 Pro-Am, while TDS Racing returns along with AF Corse in the category that mandates a Bronze-rated driver.

LMP3 sees representation from Ligier, Duqueine and Ginetta, all with its new-for-2025 Toyota-powered upgraded machinery, led by reigning champions RLR MSport.

Eight of the ten entries are Ligier JS P325 prototypes, with WTM by Rinaldi Racing entering a solo Duqueine D09 and DKR Engineering switching to a Ginetta G61-LT-P325-Evo, as the only Ginetta on the grid.

Corvette, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG Added to LMGT3 Grid

The LMGT3 grid, meanwhile, expands from 11 cars this year, with Corvette, McLaren and Mercedes-AMG all having customer entries in the class for the first time.

TF Sport will field a single Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R for Hiroshi Koizumi, while fellow WEC LMGT3 entrant United Autosports will have one of its McLaren 720S GT3 Evos for Marvin Kirchhofer.

They join the previously announced Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo effort from Iron Lynx that will feature Gustavo Menezes.

Other LMGT3 entries include efforts from AF Corse, Spirit of Race, Kessel Racing, JMW Motorsport and GR Racing (all Ferrari 296 GT3), the Proton-run Iron Dames Porsche 911 GT3 R, along with a second Proton entry for Claudio Schiavoni and Matteo Cressoni.

Additionally, Racing Spirit of Le Mans will undertake a dual WEC-ELMS program with its Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo effort.

A total of three entries, headlined by a LMP2 Pro-Am effort from High Class Racing, are on the reserve list.

“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,” said ACO President Pierre Fillon.

“Europe’s most awe-inspiring circuits form the backdrop to the season, with the Silverstone round a highlight to look forward to. kick-off.”

Le Mans Endurance Management boss Frederic Lequien added: “We are extremely pleased to see this important championship continue to grow and attract the best teams and drivers from around the world.

“2025 will also see the ELMS debut for Mercedes-AMG, with McLaren returning to the ELMS for the first time since 2014, with a Corvette also being seen on the grid for the first time in eight years. With six manufacturers in LMGT3 2025 is going to be a good year for the ELMS.

“Once again, the LMP2 category stands out with a formidable lineup of 21 cars, including 7 Pro/Am entries. The LMP3 category, with the new Toyota-powered cars from Ligier, Duqueine, and Ginetta making their debut, continues to provide a great introduction to Le Mans Prototype multi-class racing for new and established drivers alike.

“We’d like to extend a warm welcome to both the teams and drivers who are returning to the ELMS and to those making their ELMS debut in Barcelona. We’re looking forward to the first race in Spain in April and yet another season of action-packed racing.”

The 2025 season kicks off at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the 4 Hours of Barcelona on April 6.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John