HOFOR Racing secured a remarkable outright victory in the 2026 Michelin 12H Paul Ricard after a perfectly judged strategy carried the Swiss team to the top step at Le Castellet.
The #11 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, driven by Torsten Kratz, Maximilian Partl, Alexander Prinz and Michael Kroll, won both the race overall and the GT3-AM class after 12 hours of racing. Although GetSpeed Team PCX Racing showed strong pace throughout the weekend, HOFOR used consistency, fuel management and two late Code 60 periods to secure victory.
GetSpeed Team PCX Racing completed a Mercedes-AMG one-two, finishing second overall and taking GT3 PRO-AM honours with Benjamin Paque, Jordan Boisson, Patrick Charlaix and Maro Engel. Saintéloc Junior Team completed the overall podium with its Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II, shared by Pierre Kaffer, Stéphane Tribaudini, Elia Erhart and Michael Doppelmayr.
HOFOR Racing turns strategy into victory
HOFOR Racing built its race around patience and execution. During Saturday’s opening six hours, the team stayed out of trouble and gradually moved into contention. By the halfway point, HOFOR had placed itself second overall and was one of only two cars on the lead lap, behind the Proton Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R EVO.
That position gave the #11 Mercedes-AMG a strong platform for Sunday’s restart. While GetSpeed Team PCX Racing and Proton Competition had both shown front-running pace, HOFOR remained close enough to use strategy as the race developed.
In the final phase, that strategy became decisive. GetSpeed appeared to be in control during the second half, but late fuel requirements changed the picture. When Engel had to pit for fuel with around 50 minutes remaining, HOFOR committed to saving fuel to the finish.
Two late Code 60 periods then helped Kratz manage the final stint and reach the chequered flag without a late top-up. The result gave HOFOR Racing a major outright victory and GT3-AM class success in the same race.
Prinz praises HOFOR’s race management
The closing minutes created intense pressure inside the HOFOR Racing pit box, but the team’s calculations held firm.
After the race, Alexander Prinz acknowledged that the late Code 60 periods played into HOFOR’s hands, while also praising the team’s work.
“I think, for sure, the last Code 60s helped us out – but the stress level in our pit box was 2,000 percent, I aged 20 years in the last 10 minutes!”
He also credited Michael Kroll’s strategic work during the race.
“It’s unbelievable, so great for the guys who worked so hard. Michael, the strategist, he made a perfect job during the race. The only thing is Chantal and the kids are missing, but the victory is for them.”
HOFOR’s win was therefore not built on a single moment of speed. Instead, it came through race management, fuel calculation and consistent execution across both halves of the 12-hour event.
GetSpeed takes GT3 PRO-AM victory
GetSpeed Team PCX Racing missed the overall win but still left Paul Ricard with an important result. The #28 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO finished second overall, just over half a minute behind HOFOR Racing. The result also gave the team victory in GT3 PRO-AM and moved GetSpeed Team PCX Racing to the top of the Michelin 24H Series European Series standings after Round 3.
Engel started from pole on Saturday and led away cleanly. He gradually built an early advantage, while the field behind him began to change through traffic, pit stops and strategy. The Mercedes remained a central part of the lead fight throughout the race, with Paque, Boisson, Charlaix and Engel all contributing to a strong overall result.
On Sunday, Engel quickly moved forward after the restart and brought GetSpeed back into the fight. The team traded the lead with HOFOR through the second half, but the late fuel stop and following Code 60 periods reduced its chance of using outright pace to reclaim the lead.
Saintéloc Junior Team completes the podium
Saintéloc Junior Team completed the overall podium with a measured run in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II. Erhart made early progress on Saturday, passing Kobe de Breucker’s Ajith RedAnt Racing Mercedes-AMG to move into second. Although the race order continued to shift through the opening hours, the Saintéloc Audi stayed within reach of the front group.
The team remained in contention through the second half and eventually secured third overall on the lead lap. Its podium finish came ahead of Era Motorsport’s Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO, which had also featured strongly during the race.
Jake Hill made one of the strongest starts of the field in the Era Motorsport Ferrari, climbing from eighth to fifth in the opening corners before moving into third within 13 laps. He later passed the Saintéloc Audi for second at the Mistral chicane, but the Ferrari ultimately lost ground in the strategic battle.
Early race shaped by Mercedes and Ferrari pace
The opening phase of the 12H Paul Ricard suggested that GetSpeed Team PCX Racing had the pace to control the race.
Engel led from pole in the #28 Mercedes-AMG and opened a gap at the front. Behind him, Erhart moved into second for Saintéloc, while Hill charged through the order in the Era Motorsport Ferrari.
After Engel’s first stop, the order began to shift. Constantin Dressler stayed aboard the Proton Competition Porsche during the first pit cycle and moved into the lead once the sequence settled. Paque then ran second for GetSpeed Team PCX Racing, with Steve Jans third in the GT3-AM-leading GetSpeed Team JR286 Mercedes.
As Saturday progressed, HOFOR Racing continued to move forward. Partl brought the #11 Mercedes-AMG into second overall and the GT3-AM lead before the overnight pause. Proton Competition led at halfway, but HOFOR’s position on the lead lap placed it firmly in the overall fight.
Red Camel-Jordans.nl claims first 992 win of the season
Red Camel-Jordans.nl took its first 992 class victory of the 2026 Michelin 24H Series European Series season after a long battle with Mühlner Motorsport.
The #909 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, driven by Fabian Danz, Ivo Breukers, Luc Breukers and Rik Breukers, finished 57 seconds ahead of the championship-leading Mühlner Motorsport entry.
Mühlner had led early on Saturday after the pole-sitting Red Camel Porsche was crowded out at the start. Rik Breukers dropped to fourth but quickly recovered, moving back to second within the first 15 minutes. He then pressured Martin Rump before eventually taking the class lead.
The order continued to change through pit cycles, and Mühlner led the class at the end of Saturday’s running. However, Red Camel-Jordans.nl delivered stronger pace and strategy on Sunday, with Rik Breukers bringing the #909 Porsche to the finish.
HRT Performance wins 992-AM
HRT Performance claimed victory in 992-AM with the #928 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
James Kellett, Steven Gambrell, Igor Sorokin and Jonathan Kearney finished fourth overall in the 992 category and first in class. Kellett made a strong start to Sunday’s second half, moving quickly into the 992 lead before the class order developed through the remaining hours.
The 992-AM battle changed early on Saturday when QMMF by HRT Performance lost ground after contact caused left-rear damage. That setback opened the way for other class contenders, and HRT Performance ultimately converted its pace into the class win.
Vortex and Circuit Toys take solo class wins
Vortex won GTX at its home round with the Vortex 2.0. Philippe Bonnel, Julien Boillot and Alexandre de Bernardinis finished 26th overall after 12 hours of running. Although the team had no direct GTX rival at Paul Ricard, it still completed the race and secured class victory on home ground.
Circuit Toys also took GT4 victory with its Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2. Johan de Rouw, Norbert Dekker, Hugo Poppe and Olivier Huez finished 28th overall and completed a clean race to win the category.
asBest Racing survives attritional TCE-TCX race
asBest Racing won TCE-TCX after a difficult and attritional race for the class.
Not Only Motorsport initially looked set to control the category with its Ligier JS2 R. Filippo Tornaghi led from pole on Saturday and built an early advantage, but the car slowed on lap two. The team later identified the issue as an oil sensor problem linked to running temperature, which cost several laps.
That handed the lead to the asBest Racing SEAT Leon Cup Racer. By the end of Saturday’s running, only one lap separated the two teams, keeping the class battle open.
On Sunday, Not Only Motorsport again showed stronger pace and moved back into a commanding position. However, further problems followed, including a late car fire. That allowed Pia Ohlsson, Steven Teirlinck and Rafal Gieras to bring the asBest Racing entry home to a 16-lap class victory.
Nürburgring next for the European Series
The 2026 Michelin 12H Paul Ricard delivered a strategy-led overall result and several significant class winners.
HOFOR Racing claimed the outright win and GT3-AM honours, while GetSpeed Team PCX Racing secured GT3 PRO-AM victory and moved to the top of the Michelin 24H Series European Series standings. Red Camel-Jordans.nl and HRT Performance shared the Porsche class honours, while Vortex, Circuit Toys and asBest Racing completed the list of class winners.
The championship now turns towards Germany, where the Michelin 24H Series European Series will visit the Nürburgring GP circuit for the first time. The Michelin 12H Nürburgring will take place from 3–5 July.
