Prototype Cup Europe Grid Revealed for Mugello Opener

Photo: Creventic

Creventic has revealed the first grid for its new Prototype Cup Europe championship ahead of the first race in Mugello this weekend.

The championship, which is an evolution of the former Prototype Cup Germany, is organized in partnership with the ACO and Michelin. It will feature the latest Gen 3 LMP3 cars which use Toyota twin-turbo V6 engines.

Drivers will compete across four rounds supporting Creventic’s 24H Series Europe. The champion will be awarded a guaranteed reserved entry into the 2027 Michelin Le Mans Cup, which includes entry into the Road to Le Mans support race for next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Seven cars will compete across two 55-minute races this weekend.

BWT Mücke Motorsport will enter a pair of Duqueine D09 LMP3s. The German team, headed by team principal Stefan Mücke, will pair 2025 Prototype Cup Germany Vice-Champion Mattis Pluschkell with Tobias Billie Clausen, who moves over to LMP3 competition this year after racing in the ADAC GT4 Germany Championship last season.

Its sister entry will include Markus Pommer and 17-year-old Mads Kjelde Larsen. Pommer was a back-to-back Prototype Cup Germany Champion in 2023 and 2024.

Allay Racing is also fielding two cars in Mugello. Brothers Linus and Emil Hellberg, who founded the team, will race a pair of Ligier JS P325 machines. The Swedes are former race winners in the Prototype Winter Series in Spain.

Aust Motorsport’s No. 3 Ligier JS P325 car will be the team’s sole entry. Maxim Dirickx, who placed fourth in the Prototype Cup Germany Championship last year will be its only driver.

German Motor Sports Team, a customer outfit of GEBHARDT Motorsport, will field a singular Ligier JS P325. Jacob Erlbacher and 2024 Prototype Cup Germany champion Valentino Catalano will share driving duties in the No. 11 car.

Team Virage’s No.74 Ligier will be shared between Dominique Bastien and Theo Micouris. Bastien has previous experience in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, whilst Micouris is a former Ligier European Champion and a Michelin Le Mans Cup podium finisher.

Prototype Cup Europe will support Creventic’s Mugello 12H. On-track action will commence tomorrow with several CR Track Day sessions. These sessions will serve as additional testing time for teams before free practice and qualifying on Friday.

Race one of the weekend will take place on Saturday, with the second race commencing on Sunday.

Finlay Ringer

Finlay Ringer is a freelance motorsport journalist covering the 24H Series for Sportscar365. He is also a journalism student at City St George's, University of London, and has contributed to publications such as The Race and Autocar.