GMS Team secured victory in the inaugural Asian Le Mans Cup (ALMC) race at Circuit Paul Ricard, with Valentino Catalano and Oscar Andrés Tunjo overcoming a mechanical setback and unpredictable weather to win the opening two-hour contest. The #75 Duqueine D09-Toyota completed 55 laps, finishing 5.434 seconds ahead of the pole-sitting #50 23Events Racing Ligier.
The changing conditions proved decisive as Tunjo remained on slick tyres despite increasing rain, allowing GMS Team to capitalise when the circuit began drying. Giovanni Maschio and Colin Queen finished second for 23Events Racing after dominating the opening stages, while Kyuho Lee and Luciano Morano completed the LMP3 Pro podium for R-ace GP.
Meanwhile, CLX Motorsport secured a one-two finish in LMP3, with Laurent Wüthrich and Louis Iglesias recovering from an early spin to defeat teammates Terrence Woodward and Vic Stevens. In GT3, Ralf Bohn and Alfred Renauer converted pole position into victory for Herberth Motorsport, overcoming an early challenge from Racing Spirit of Léman.
The opening race delivered a dramatic introduction to the new championship, with changing weather, strategic decisions and several incidents influencing the results across all three categories.
Maschio establishes commanding early advantage for 23Events Racing
23Events Racing entered the opening race as the leading LMP3 Pro contender after securing both pole positions during Friday’s qualifying sessions. Maschio had recorded a 1:58.402 in Q1, narrowly defeating GMS Team’s Tunjo before Queen completed the team’s qualifying sweep in Q2.
The Italian made an impressive start to Saturday’s race, immediately establishing an advantage in the #50 Ligier JS P325-Toyota. As the field settled into the opening stages, Maschio continued extending his lead, leaving the chasing competitors facing an increasingly difficult challenge.
Behind him, Catalano concentrated on maintaining a competitive position in the #75 GMS Team Duqueine. Having started second, the German adopted a cautious approach as the damp circuit created uncertainty over grip and tyre performance.
The opening ALMC qualifying results had demonstrated the competitiveness of the eight-car LMP3 Pro field, although Maschio’s early race pace initially suggested that 23Events Racing would remain difficult to challenge.
However, the arrival of rain fundamentally changed the contest, creating opportunities for teams to adopt different strategies as the mandatory pit-stop window approached.
Catalano loses wheel nut before mandatory pit stop
GMS Team encountered a significant setback shortly before the mandatory pit stops when Catalano’s #75 Duqueine suffered a wheel-related problem.
Having spent the opening stint conserving his tyres and maintaining a competitive position, Catalano suddenly found himself driving with only three wheels after losing a wheel nut. The incident threatened to end the team’s challenge, particularly as the worsening weather created further difficulties.
Nevertheless, Catalano managed to continue towards the pit lane, allowing the team to complete its scheduled stop and hand the car to Tunjo.
The setback came at a particularly difficult moment. With rain beginning to affect the circuit, teams faced decisions over whether to continue on slick tyres or adapt their strategies to the increasingly wet conditions.
GMS Team elected to keep the #75 on slicks, placing considerable responsibility on Tunjo as he began his stint.
The decision initially appeared risky as the rain intensified, but the team believed that the conditions could eventually favour the dry-weather tyres.
Tunjo’s slick-tyre gamble transforms GMS Team’s race
Tunjo faced one of the most challenging strategic decisions of the opening race after taking over the #75 Duqueine. Despite the increasingly wet circuit, the Colombian remained on slick tyres rather than switching to a wet-weather compound.
As the rain continued, the decision initially appeared unlikely to deliver the desired result. The slippery conditions made maintaining grip difficult, while competitors running alternative strategies threatened to gain an advantage.
However, GMS Team remained committed to its approach. When the weather improved and the circuit began drying, Tunjo could exploit the performance of the slick tyres, recovering the positions lost during the earlier difficulties.
The decision ultimately transformed the team’s race, allowing the #75 to challenge for victory despite the mechanical setback that had complicated Catalano’s stint.
Reflecting on the difficult circumstances, Tunjo explained:
“Today we had everything that looked like it was not going to happen, but we kept the faith.”
The official ALMC account of the inaugural race detailed how the changing weather eventually rewarded the team’s decision, with Tunjo recovering to secure the championship’s first overall victory.
GMS Team defeats 23Events Racing by 5.434 seconds
Tunjo eventually crossed the finish line after 55 laps, securing victory for GMS Team in the first race of the ALMC championship.
The result represented a remarkable recovery for Catalano and Tunjo, who had appeared in danger of losing contention following the wheel problem and their decision to remain on slick tyres in the rain.
Maschio and Queen finished second in the #50 23Events Racing Ligier, 5.434 seconds behind the winners. Although the team had dominated qualifying and established a substantial advantage during the opening stint, the changing conditions ultimately prevented it from converting that performance into victory.
Lee and Morano completed the LMP3 Pro podium for R-ace GP, finishing 46.235 seconds behind GMS Team in the #85 Duqueine D09-Toyota. Having started fifth, the pair secured a valuable result in the championship’s opening race.
The victory also provided an important result for the two-car GMS Team programme operated by GEBHARDT Motorsport, which fields different LMP3 chassis across its entries.
With Catalano and Tunjo securing maximum points, GMS Team established itself as the early LMP3 Pro championship leader.
Soufi and Barth finish fourth as Bretton Racing loses pit-lane time
GMS Team’s second entry also finished among the leading competitors, with Danny Soufi and Sven Barth securing fourth in the #11 Ligier JS P325-Toyota.
The pair completed 55 laps, finishing 1:02.432 behind their winning teammates. The championship’s initial report noted that the entry could face a post-race investigation, although the published final classification retains the #11 in fourth.
Bretton Racing followed just 0.895 seconds behind, with Emily Cotty and Calan Williams securing fifth in the #26 Ligier.
However, their result came after a difficult mandatory pit stop. The #92 Team Virage Ligier obstructed their progress in the pit lane, causing the team to lose valuable time during an already unpredictable race.
The interruption compromised Bretton Racing’s opportunity to challenge for a stronger finishing position, although Cotty and Williams still completed the full 55-lap distance.
Further back, the #19 23Events Racing entry finished sixth in LMP3 Pro, ahead of CLX Motorsport’s #17 and Team Virage’s #92. All three completed 54 laps, finishing one lap behind the class winner.
CLX Motorsport recovers from early spin to win LMP3
CLX Motorsport overcame an early setback to secure victory in the separate LMP3 category, with Wüthrich and Iglesias completing a successful recovery in the #86 Ligier JS P325-Toyota.
The pair entered the race as favourites after securing pole position for both contests during Friday’s qualifying sessions. However, an early spin disrupted their opening stint, forcing them to recover positions rather than control the race from the front.
The incident initially benefited teammates Woodward and Stevens in the #87 CLX Motorsport Ligier, who moved ahead in the class classification.
Nevertheless, Wüthrich and Iglesias steadily recovered, using their pace to close the gap to the sister entry. The pair eventually completed the decisive overtake to regain the class lead, converting their earlier qualifying advantage into victory.
The result continued CLX Motorsport’s strong form in LMP3 competition, with the organisation entering the inaugural championship following considerable success in the European Le Mans Series and previous ALMS campaigns.
Despite their opening difficulties, Wüthrich and Iglesias completed 55 laps, securing victory in the championship’s first LMP3 race.
CLX Motorsport completes LMP3 one-two ahead of Brutal Fish Campos Racing
Woodward and Stevens followed second in the #87 CLX Motorsport Ligier, finishing just 6.678 seconds behind their teammates.
The result completed a one-two finish for the Swiss organisation, which had also locked out the front row of the category during both qualifying sessions.
Brutal Fish Campos Racing secured the final podium position with Morten Strømsted and Kevin Rabin in the #12 Ligier. The pair maintained a consistent performance throughout the changing conditions, avoiding the major setbacks that affected several competitors.
They eventually completed 54 laps, finishing one lap behind the class-winning CLX entry.
Meanwhile, Motorsport98 endured a difficult opening race, with Eric De Doncker and Gillian Henrion encountering several problems in the #98 Ligier.
The Belgian team suffered spins during the race and also experienced an issue with its rain light, complicating its efforts to recover through the field.
Despite those difficulties, the crew reached the finish after 52 laps, securing fourth in LMP3.
The result gave CLX Motorsport an early advantage in the category, although the separate LMP3 Pro programme also allowed the organisation to gather additional experience during the opening weekend.
Racing Spirit of Léman charges from last to first in GT3
The GT3 battle began with an impressive recovery from Racing Spirit of Léman, whose #10 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo had missed the opening qualifying session because of gearbox problems.
Sebastian Moreno and Esteban González Beckmann therefore started fourth and last in class, facing a difficult challenge against the two Herberth Motorsport Porsches and E2P Racing’s Aston Martin.
However, the pair quickly made progress, recovering from the back of the field to move into the GT3 lead during the opening stages.
Their performance demonstrated the team’s competitiveness despite its difficult preparations. Having secured the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup GT3 championship, Racing Spirit of Léman entered the ALMC season with considerable momentum.
Meanwhile, Herberth Motorsport had started from pole position after Bohn recorded a 2:05.366 in Friday’s opening qualifying session.
Although the German outfit initially lost the lead to the recovering Aston Martin, Bohn and Renauer remained in contention as the changing weather and mandatory pit stops began influencing the order.
Renauer capitalises on traffic to secure Herberth GT3 victory
The battle for GT3 victory changed during the mandatory pit-stop sequence as rain began affecting Circuit Paul Ricard.
Racing Spirit of Léman initially maintained its competitive position, but the team encountered difficulties when LMP3 traffic interrupted its progress.
Renauer capitalised on the situation, completing an overtake in the #91 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo to move into the class lead.
The German subsequently maintained his advantage, combining the team’s strategic decisions with consistent driving as the conditions continued changing.
Meanwhile, Racing Spirit of Léman encountered another setback when its Aston Martin spun during the closing stages. The incident prevented Moreno and González Beckmann from recovering the lead and ultimately left the team third.
Bohn and Renauer completed 53 laps to secure the inaugural ALMC GT3 victory, converting their pole position into a successful opening race.
The result provided an encouraging start for Herberth Motorsport, which entered the championship with two Porsche entries and considerable experience in international GT competition.
E2P Racing secures second as Herberth completes GT3 victory
E2P Racing claimed second in GT3 with Pablo Burguera and Antonio Sainero in the #90 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo.
The Spanish pairing completed 53 laps, finishing 1:14.389 behind the victorious Herberth Motorsport Porsche.
Racing Spirit of Léman followed third, with Moreno and González Beckmann finishing 6.360 seconds behind E2P Racing despite their earlier lead and late spin.
Although the result represented a missed opportunity after recovering from the back of the grid, the team still secured a podium finish following its difficult qualifying preparations.
Herberth Motorsport’s second entry completed the four-car GT3 classification, with Jörg Dreisow and Manuel Lauck finishing fourth in the #73 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo.
The pair completed 52 laps, one fewer than their winning teammates, giving Herberth Motorsport first and fourth in the opening GT3 race.
The result established Bohn and Renauer as the early championship leaders ahead of Sunday’s second contest, where Racing Spirit of Léman will start from class pole position.
LMP3 Pro | 2026/27 ALMC Le Castellet Race 1 full results
- #75 GMS Team — Duqueine D09-Toyota — 55 laps — 2:00:27.615
- #50 23Events Racing — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 55 laps — +5.434s
- #85 R-ace GP — Duqueine D09-Toyota — 55 laps — +46.235s
- #11 GMS Team — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 55 laps — +1:02.432
- #26 Bretton Racing — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 55 laps — +1:03.327
- #19 23Events Racing — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 54 laps — +1 lap
- #17 CLX Motorsport — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 54 laps — +1 lap
- #92 Team Virage — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 54 laps — +1 lap
LMP3 | 2026/27 ALMC Le Castellet Race 1 full results
- #86 CLX Motorsport — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 55 laps — 2:01:36.968
- #87 CLX Motorsport — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 55 laps — +6.678s
- #12 Brutal Fish Campos Racing — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 54 laps — +1 lap
- #98 Motorsport98 — Ligier JS P325-Toyota — 52 laps — +3 laps
GT3 | 2026/27 ALMC Le Castellet Race 1 full results
- #91 Herberth Motorsport — Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo — 53 laps — 2:01:22.038
- #90 E2P Racing — Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo — 53 laps — +1:14.389
- #10 Racing Spirit of Léman — Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo — 53 laps — +1:20.749
- #73 Herberth Motorsport — Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo — 52 laps — +1 lap
The official ALMC Race 1 classification records all 16 entries, with GMS Team, CLX Motorsport and Herberth Motorsport taking the inaugural victories in their respective categories.
ALMC returns for second Le Castellet race
The inaugural ALMC race delivered an unpredictable start to the championship, with changing weather and contrasting strategies influencing the results across all three categories.
GMS Team secured the first overall victory through Catalano and Tunjo, overcoming a wheel problem and benefiting from a bold decision to remain on slick tyres. Meanwhile, CLX Motorsport recovered from an early spin to secure a one-two finish in LMP3, while Herberth Motorsport converted pole position into GT3 victory.
The championship will return to Circuit Paul Ricard for Race 2 on Sunday, 15 November, with the second two-hour contest beginning at 09:25 CET.
23Events Racing will start from LMP3 Pro pole position after Queen topped Q2, while Wüthrich will again lead the LMP3 field for CLX Motorsport. In GT3, Racing Spirit of Léman’s Moreno will start from pole following his successful recovery during Friday’s second qualifying session.
The second race will provide the teams with another opportunity to secure valuable points before the championship moves to Jerez in January.
