Enzo Trulli will target a home podium when the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) visits Imola, as the Italian continues his impressive transition from single-seaters to LMP2 machinery.
Trulli previously won the F4 UAE championship and claimed two Euroformula victories before moving into endurance racing. He has since contested eight LMP2 races and secured four podium finishes.
The son of Monaco Grand Prix winner Jarno Trulli claimed three second places in the Asian Le Mans Series over the winter. He then added his first ELMS victory at the 4 Hours of Barcelona in April alongside Malthe Jakobsen and Michael Jensen.
That victory placed the Algarve Pro Racing trio third in the championship after two rounds. They trail championship leaders Doriane Pin, Richard Vershoor and Giorgio Roda by only six points despite a difficult second event at Le Castellet.
Trulli now heads to Imola with his first home ELMS appearance, a growing understanding of endurance racing and a clear place in the early title contest.
Barcelona victory launches early championship challenge
Trulli began his ELMS career with victory in Barcelona before Algarve Pro Racing endured a more difficult weekend at Paul Ricard. Although the team failed to repeat its opening-round result in France, Trulli took encouragement from the pace of the No. 25 Oreca 07 Gibson. He now wants the crew to use practice at Imola to prepare a car capable of challenging at the front in demanding conditions.
“The first round of the 2026 European Le Mans Series in Barcelona was very good for me, Malthe (Jakobsen), Michael (Jensen) and Algarve Pro Racing, but the second race of the season in Le Castellet did not go our way,” Trulli admitted while speaking to European Le Mans Series. “It wasn’t our day, even though the pace wasn’t bad. We took that away as a big positive.
“At Imola, tyre degradation isn’t ordinarily a major issue, but I think it will be very hot and tough. We just have to ensure we work well in free practice to prepare the best possible race car that will give us a chance to not only fight for championship points, but a win.”
The Barcelona success demonstrated the crew’s potential, while the Paul Ricard setback underlined the consistency that an ELMS title challenge demands. As a result, Trulli approaches Imola with both outright performance and championship points in mind.
Trulli develops endurance racing judgement
Trulli brought extensive single-seater experience into LMP2, but endurance competition has required him to develop a broader range of skills. Traffic management, fuel conservation and strategic awareness now influence each decision he makes behind the wheel. Instead of treating every on-track encounter as an immediate battle, Trulli must judge whether an overtake justifies the risk or whether strategy can deliver the position later.
“I think my first season in endurance racing is going pretty well. There is still a lot of room for improvement, especially with traffic management and reading the race, like understanding traffic, fuel-saving and what others are doing on strategy. For example, do I have to take any risks and pass a car on the track, or is it better to stay behind, save fuel and jump them in the pit stops? I’m getting better all the time, and I know the speed is there because I have an amazing teammate in Malthe to compare myself against.”
Jakobsen provides Trulli with an established LMP2 benchmark, allowing the Italian to assess his speed and accelerate his development. Meanwhile, each race gives him more experience in managing situations that rarely arise during shorter single-seater contests.
Oreca characteristics ease single-seater transition
The Oreca 07 Gibson delivers considerably more power and downforce than the junior single-seaters Trulli previously raced. However, its behaviour still gives him several familiar reference points.
The prototype’s additional length and weight require some adjustment, but Trulli believes its overall responses resemble those of an open-wheel car.
“The Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 is very similar to the single-seaters I’m used to. There’s much more downforce and power, which you feel a lot. The car is also longer and heavier, but it behaves similarly to a junior open-wheeler.”
That familiarity has helped Trulli display immediate speed during his first endurance campaign. Nevertheless, outright pace represents only one part of the challenge, and his continued progress will depend on how effectively he combines that speed with race management.
Home appearance brings support and added attention
Imola will give Trulli his first opportunity to contest an ELMS race in Italy. Friends and family will attend the event, allowing them to experience his racing environment first-hand. Their presence will make the weekend particularly meaningful, although it will also bring greater attention and expectation.
“To race in the ELMS in Italy for the first time will be an amazing experience, as a lot of my friends and my family are coming to Imola. Some don’t truly understand what I do, so to show them my world is something I will enjoy very much.
“Of course, it means more attention will be on me, and that can bring some pressure, but I’m not expecting that to be an issue. I will have to stay focused on the race, prepare well and just do my job in the way I always do.”
Trulli plans to embrace the occasion without allowing the added attention to disrupt his preparation. Instead, he will rely on the same approach that helped him win during his ELMS debut in Barcelona.
Imola rewards commitment and precision
Despite racing at home, Trulli has limited experience at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari. He has visited the circuit only a handful of times, but he particularly enjoys its fast, flowing opening sector and the challenge of Acque Minerali.
Imola’s narrow layout and limited run-off punish errors more severely than many modern circuits. Consequently, drivers must balance commitment with precision throughout each stint.
“I haven’t been to Autodromo Internazionale do Enzo e Dino Ferrari much – no more than two or three times. Acque Minerali is a highlight, and the first sector of the lap is enjoyable because it’s very flowing and high-speed. One thing I like about Imola is that you can’t make any mistakes. There is no run-off, so it rewards drivers who are precise and can use as much of the track as possible.”
Those characteristics should suit a driver with Trulli’s single-seater background. However, he must also negotiate slower-class traffic around a circuit that offers fewer straightforward overtaking opportunities.
Podium target supports wider title ambition
Algarve Pro Racing enters Imola within six points of the championship lead, despite leaving Le Castellet without the result it expected. Trulli therefore views a podium as the minimum target, although the team will begin the weekend with victory in mind. At the same time, he recognises the value of protecting the crew’s title prospects when an aggressive move carries more risk than reward.
“A podium is the goal for the ELMS 4 Hours of Imola. We had a bad weekend in Le Castellet, yet we are only six points behind the team in P1. We go there to win but have to keep the big picture in mind. Sometimes you want to fight for the victory, but to arrive at the final round of the season still fighting is important and it might be better to collect points. You have to analyse what the risks are and what the rewards are.”
That approach reflects Trulli’s growing understanding of endurance racing. He still carries the speed and ambition that defined his single-seater career, but he now considers fuel, traffic, strategy and championship consequences alongside every potential overtake.
A strong home result would strengthen Algarve Pro Racing’s title challenge and mark another important step in Trulli’s rapid development as an LMP2 driver.
