Algarve Pro Racing secured the 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP2 Pro/Am Championship following a dramatic season finale at the 4 Hours of Portimão. Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli and Malthe Jakobsen claimed the title after a late penalty for TDS Racing transformed the outcome of both the race and the championship.
The Portuguese outfit completed the six-round campaign with 86 points, finishing nine ahead of TDS Racing after securing two victories and two second-place finishes. However, its route to the championship proved far from straightforward, with two races outside the points and an exceptionally competitive field leaving eight crews mathematically capable of winning the title heading into the final round.
Meanwhile, AF Corse completed the championship podium with 67 points, level with Duqueine Team but ahead on countback. Vector Sport finished fifth after claiming its first ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am victory at Imola, while Nielsen Racing and AO by TF also demonstrated their competitiveness throughout a season that produced five different race-winning teams.
Algarve Pro Racing begins 2026 targeting LMP2 Pro/Am success
Algarve Pro Racing entered the 2026 ELMS season with a strong driver line-up, combining Jensen, Trulli and Jakobsen in its No. 20 Oreca 07-Gibson.
Jakobsen brought considerable prototype racing experience to the team, having previously secured success in the European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series. His partnership with Jensen and Trulli provided Algarve Pro Racing with a competitive combination as the Portuguese organisation pursued another endurance racing title.
However, the team faced significant competition from several established outfits. Reigning champions AO by TF returned with PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron and Louis Delétraz, while AF Corse entered François Perrodo, Matthieu Vaxivière and Antonio Fuoco.
Duqueine Team also strengthened the field with Giorgio Roda, Richard Verschoor and Doriane Pin, while Vector Sport, TDS Racing, Nielsen Racing and Rossa Racing by Virage added further depth to the 12-car LMP2 Pro/Am category.
With six four-hour races across Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Portugal, the championship promised another closely contested campaign.
Barcelona: Algarve Pro Racing opens season with victory
The 2026 championship began at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Algarve Pro Racing immediately established itself as a leading contender despite a difficult qualifying session.
Jensen qualified the No. 20 Oreca eighth in LMP2 Pro/Am, finishing more than two seconds behind Giorgio Roda, who secured pole position for Duqueine Team with a 1:30.332.
However, the opening race produced several incidents that disrupted the field and created opportunities for alternative strategies. Contact involving Proton Competition, CLX Motorsport and Nielsen Racing brought an early red flag, while further interruptions influenced the pit-stop sequences.
Algarve Pro Racing capitalised on the changing circumstances. Jensen completed his opening stint before handing over to Trulli, who maintained the team’s progress through the field. Jakobsen subsequently took control of the car and moved into contention for victory.
The Danish driver eventually secured the LMP2 Pro/Am victory at Barcelona, finishing approximately 19 seconds ahead of AF Corse’s Antonio Fuoco. Duqueine Team completed the podium, giving Roda, Verschoor and Pin a positive start to their campaign.
The result provided Algarve Pro Racing with 25 points and an early championship advantage. However, the opening round also demonstrated the competitiveness of its rivals, particularly AF Corse and Duqueine Team.
Le Castellet: Nielsen Racing triumphs as Algarve Pro Racing struggles
The second round at Circuit Paul Ricard brought a considerably more difficult weekend for Algarve Pro Racing.
Duqueine Team initially continued its impressive qualifying form, with Roda setting a 1:50.386 to claim provisional pole position. However, post-qualifying technical inspections identified an infringement, and officials deleted the Italian driver’s lap times.
The decision promoted AO by TF’s Hyett to pole, while Jensen qualified sixth for Algarve Pro Racing.
The race subsequently produced another unpredictable outcome. AF Corse appeared to have secured its first victory of the season when Vaxivière crossed the finish line ahead of the LMP2 Pro/Am field.
However, a drive-through penalty dropped the No. 83 Oreca to sixth in the final classification, allowing Nielsen Racing to inherit victory.
Alex Quinn, James Allen and Kriton Lentoudis consequently claimed their first win of the campaign. AO by TF finished second, while Duqueine Team recovered from its qualifying disappointment to complete the podium.
Meanwhile, Algarve Pro Racing endured its weakest result of the season so far. Jensen, Trulli and Jakobsen could only finish 11th in class, leaving the team without points.
The setback significantly reduced its early championship advantage and increased the importance of securing a strong result at Imola.
Imola: Algarve Pro Racing recovers as Vector Sport secures maiden victory
The 4 Hours of Imola provided Algarve Pro Racing with an opportunity to recover from its disappointing performance in France.
However, qualifying once again proved challenging. Jensen placed the No. 20 Oreca tenth in LMP2 Pro/Am, leaving the team with considerable work to do during the four-hour race.
At the front, Roda returned to pole position for Duqueine Team, narrowly beating DKR Engineering’s Jean Glorieux by just 0.007 seconds. The Italian recorded a 1:33.195, securing his second pole of the season.
The race featured several changes at the front of the class. Proton Competition initially challenged for victory, but a ten-second stop-and-go penalty compromised its chances. Rossa Racing by Virage subsequently moved into contention before making a late pit stop from the lead.
Vector Sport capitalised on the opportunity, with Lorenzo Fluxá bringing the No. 7 Oreca home to secure the team’s first ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am victory alongside Jens Reno Møller and Cem Bölükbaşı.
However, Algarve Pro Racing produced an impressive recovery. Jakobsen climbed through the field and finished just 4.103 seconds behind Fluxá, securing second place ahead of United Autosports.
The Imola podium allowed Jensen, Trulli and Jakobsen to regain valuable championship points after their difficult Le Castellet weekend.
Following three rounds, Algarve Pro Racing and Vector Sport shared the championship lead with 43 points. Nevertheless, Algarve Pro Racing retained first place on countback thanks to its Barcelona victory and Imola runner-up finish.
Spa-Francorchamps: Jakobsen secures another podium as AF Corse wins
Algarve Pro Racing entered the second half of the season with its championship advantage under considerable pressure.
Qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps again highlighted Duqueine Team’s outright pace. Roda secured his third pole position of the campaign with a 2:03.578, beating Glorieux by 0.944 seconds.
Jensen qualified seventh for Algarve Pro Racing, leaving the No. 20 crew behind several of its principal championship rivals.
However, the race produced another strong recovery from the Portuguese team. Jakobsen moved through the field during the closing stages, joining a closely contested battle for the LMP2 Pro/Am victory.
At the front, AF Corse’s Vaxivière fought AO by TF’s Delétraz for the lead. The pair made contact at Les Combes, sending Delétraz into a spin while Vaxivière used the escape road before maintaining his advantage.
Vaxivière ultimately secured the Spa-Francorchamps victory alongside Perrodo and Fuoco, finishing just 3.343 seconds ahead of Jakobsen. Delétraz recovered to complete the podium for AO by TF.
The result represented another important points haul for Algarve Pro Racing. However, AF Corse’s victory brought the Italian outfit level with the championship leaders on 61 points.
Algarve Pro Racing maintained its position at the top through countback, having secured one victory and two second-place finishes across the opening four rounds.
Nevertheless, AF Corse emerged as an increasingly serious title contender with just two races remaining.
Silverstone: TDS Racing capitalises on difficult conditions
The Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone brought another significant change to the LMP2 Pro/Am championship battle.
TDS Racing immediately demonstrated its competitiveness when Steven Thomas secured pole position with a 1:45.611, finishing 0.273 seconds ahead of CLX Motorsport’s Georgios Kolovos.
Jensen qualified fifth for Algarve Pro Racing, recording his strongest qualifying result of the season up to that point. However, the race presented considerably more difficult conditions as heavy rain disrupted the second half of the contest.
The changing weather forced teams to reconsider their strategies, with several entries exchanging positions as they navigated the increasingly wet circuit.
TDS Racing emerged as one of the strongest contenders. Despite a temporary technical issue that forced Sami Meguetounif to stop on the circuit, the team recovered and returned to the front of the field.
Scott Huffaker eventually brought the No. 14 Oreca home second overall and first in LMP2 Pro/Am, securing victory alongside Thomas and Meguetounif.
United Autosports finished second in class, while Rossa Racing by Virage completed the podium.
However, Algarve Pro Racing struggled throughout the rain-affected Silverstone race. Jensen, Trulli and Jakobsen finished 11th in class, recording their second non-points finish of the campaign.
The result dropped Algarve Pro Racing to third in the championship with 61 points. AF Corse moved into the lead on 67, while TDS Racing climbed to second with 62.
Nevertheless, only six points separated the leading three crews, leaving the title battle open heading into the final round.
Portimão: Final-lap penalty delivers Algarve Pro Racing the championship
The season finale at Portimão brought one of the closest title battles of the 2026 European Le Mans Series.
Eight LMP2 Pro/Am crews retained a mathematical chance of securing the championship, with just six points separating the leading four.
AF Corse entered the weekend on 67 points, followed by TDS Racing on 62. Algarve Pro Racing and Duqueine Team shared third with 61, while Vector Sport, Rossa Racing by Virage, AO by TF and United Autosports also remained in contention.
Jensen delivered his strongest qualifying performance of the season, placing the No. 20 Oreca third behind DKR Engineering’s Jean Glorieux and Duqueine Team’s Roda.
However, the race initially appeared to favour TDS Racing. Huffaker moved into the LMP2 Pro/Am lead during the final hour and established an advantage over Jakobsen, who continued closing the gap aboard the Algarve Pro Racing Oreca.
With the championship at stake, Jakobsen needed to win to secure the title. Although he steadily reduced the deficit, the remaining distance appeared insufficient for him to challenge Huffaker before the chequered flag.
However, the race took a dramatic turn when officials penalised Huffaker for exceeding track limits on the final lap. Race Control initially issued a drive-through penalty before converting it into a time penalty, dropping TDS Racing to third.
The decision promoted Algarve Pro Racing into first place, while CLX Motorsport inherited second.
Meanwhile, AF Corse suffered a technical problem that forced its No. 83 Oreca into the pits for repairs. The championship leaders consequently finished 11th in class, losing their advantage in the standings.
Algarve Pro Racing therefore secured victory at Portimão and the LMP2 Pro/Am championship with Jensen, Trulli and Jakobsen. The late penalty transformed the outcome, allowing the Portuguese team to celebrate its second victory of the season on home soil.
Algarve Pro Racing completes championship-winning campaign with nine-point advantage
Following six rounds, Algarve Pro Racing finished the season with 86 points, securing the LMP2 Pro/Am Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships by nine points over TDS Racing.
The Portuguese outfit claimed two victories at Barcelona and Portimão, alongside second-place finishes at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps.
Although its two 11th-place finishes at Le Castellet and Silverstone threatened its title challenge, the team capitalised on its strongest weekends to remain within reach of the championship lead.
TDS Racing finished second with 77 points after its breakthrough victory at Silverstone and podium at Portimão. Meanwhile, AF Corse secured third with 67, finishing ahead of Duqueine Team on countback.
Vector Sport completed the top five with 65 points following its victory at Imola. Rossa Racing by Virage finished sixth on 59, while United Autosports and AO by TF followed with 46 and 45 respectively.
CLX Motorsport climbed to ninth after securing second at Portimão, with Nielsen Racing, DKR Engineering and Proton Competition completing the classification.
The final 2026 ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am standings reflected the category’s competitiveness, with five different winners across six races and eight crews still involved in the championship battle entering the finale.
Final 2026 ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am Teams’ Championship standings
- Algarve Pro Racing #20 — 86 points
- TDS Racing #14 — 77
- AF Corse #83 — 67
- Duqueine Team #30 — 67
- Vector Sport #7 — 65
- Rossa Racing by Virage #19 — 59
- United Autosports #21 — 46
- AO by TF #99 — 45
- CLX Motorsport #47 — 38
- Nielsen Racing #27 — 34
- DKR Engineering #3 — 22
- Proton Competition #88 — 6
A dramatic conclusion to a closely contested LMP2 Pro/Am season
The 2026 ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am championship demonstrated the importance of recovery drives, race strategy and capitalising on opportunities across a highly competitive field.
Algarve Pro Racing began the season with victory at Barcelona, but difficult weekends at Le Castellet and Silverstone threatened its championship ambitions. Strong performances at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps nevertheless kept Jensen, Trulli and Jakobsen among the leading contenders.
Meanwhile, Nielsen Racing, Vector Sport, AF Corse and TDS Racing all secured victories during the middle stages of the season, ensuring that no single team established a decisive advantage.
The championship ultimately came down to the final moments at Portimão. With Huffaker seemingly heading towards victory, Algarve Pro Racing appeared destined to miss out on the title. However, the late track limits penalty changed the classification and handed the Portuguese outfit the result it needed.
The victory completed a successful campaign for Jensen, Trulli and Jakobsen, whose two wins and two second-place finishes ultimately secured both championships.
With an intense title fight, five different race-winning teams and a final-lap decision determining the champions, the 2026 LMP2 Pro/Am season provided one of the most dramatic conclusions across the European Le Mans Series categories.
