The 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) begins at Circuit Paul Ricard on 13–15 November, introducing a new chapter for the endurance championship as Hypercar joins LMP2 and GT3 for the first time. The opening weekend will feature two four-hour races, with an international field preparing for the championship’s unusual European winter campaign.
A provisional 46-car entry list includes two Ferrari 499P Hypercars, 16 LMP2 prototypes and 28 GT3 cars representing eight manufacturers. Reigning champions CrowdStrike Racing by APR and Kessel Racing return to defend their titles, while established organisations and several newcomers will challenge for honours across all three categories.
Beyond the new Hypercar class, the opening weekend will introduce several significant driver combinations, including former Formula 1 competitors, Le Mans winners and emerging talents making the transition into endurance racing. With six races across three double-header weekends, the results at Le Castellet will establish the early championship order.
ALMS begins European winter campaign at Circuit Paul Ricard
The 2026/27 season marks a significant departure from the championship’s traditional calendar, with all six races taking place in Southern Europe rather than Asia and the Middle East.
Organisers introduced the temporary arrangement following geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, alongside logistical difficulties and limited availability at suitable Asian circuits during the winter. Consequently, Circuit Paul Ricard, Jerez and Portimão will each host two four-hour races on consecutive days.
The revised 2026/27 ALMS calendar retains the championship’s established six-race structure, although the geographical shift creates different conditions for teams accustomed to competing in Asia and the Middle East.
Paul Ricard also provides a familiar starting point for several entrants, particularly those competing in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS). However, the revised class structure and substantial 46-car field will introduce additional challenges.
The championship will also welcome the inaugural Asian Le Mans Cup as a separate support competition, following the decision to remove LMP3 from the main series.
Circuit Paul Ricard presents technical and strategic challenges
Circuit Paul Ricard will host the opening two races on its 5.84-kilometre Grand Prix configuration, featuring 15 corners and a combination of long straights, technical sections and high-speed sweeping turns.
The Mistral Straight will provide an important overtaking opportunity, particularly as faster prototypes navigate GT3 traffic. However, the demanding Signes and Beausset corners will place considerable emphasis on aerodynamic stability and tyre performance.
Teams will need to balance straight-line speed with downforce through the circuit’s faster sections. Furthermore, the heavy braking zones and long-duration corners could create additional demands on tyre management during extended stints.
The November date also introduces the possibility of cooler track temperatures and unpredictable weather, potentially influencing tyre warm-up, vehicle balance and race strategy.
With 46 cars sharing the circuit, traffic management will remain particularly important. The different performance characteristics of Hypercar, LMP2 and GT3 machinery will require drivers to manage closing speeds carefully while maintaining competitive lap times.
Ferrari introduces Hypercar to ALMS with two 499Ps
The arrival of Hypercar represents the championship’s most significant sporting development, with Cetilar Racing and AF Corse introducing two Ferrari 499Ps for the inaugural season.
Both programmes will receive technical support from AF Corse, which has extensive experience operating Ferrari’s Le Mans-winning prototype across international endurance championships.
The confirmation of two Ferrari 499P entries establishes the manufacturer’s presence throughout the six-race campaign, with the cars competing in the championship’s highest category.
Although only two Hypercars will contest the inaugural season, their presence introduces a different competitive dynamic as the category combines top-level prototype machinery with the championship’s Pro-Am structure.
Both line-ups feature Bronze-rated competitors alongside experienced Ferrari factory drivers, placing considerable importance on consistency and effective driver rotation throughout the four-hour races.
The opening weekend will provide the first competitive comparison between the two Ferrari programmes as they begin their challenge for the inaugural ALMS Hypercar title.
Cetilar Racing steps up after LMP2 runner-up finish
Cetilar Racing arrives at Paul Ricard following a successful 2025/26 campaign in which the Italian outfit finished runner-up in the LMP2 championship.
The organisation will now compete with the #47 Ferrari 499P, sharing driving responsibilities between Roberto Lacorte, Nicola Lacorte and Ferrari factory driver Antonio Fuoco.
The programme represents a significant step in Cetilar Racing’s development, with the father-and-son partnership competing alongside one of Ferrari’s established Hypercar drivers.
Fuoco brings considerable experience in the 499P, having previously secured overall victory at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. His familiarity with the machinery should provide valuable support as the Lacortes adapt to the additional technical demands of Hypercar competition.
The team has also introduced a distinctive blue and green livery for its Ferrari 499P, maintaining the colours associated with its previous endurance racing programmes.
Following two victories and second place in last season’s LMP2 standings, Cetilar will now aim to translate that success into the championship’s new premier category.
AF Corse combines Le Mans winners in second Ferrari
AF Corse will field the sister #90 Ferrari 499P for Luís Pérez Companc, Yifei Ye and Nicklas Nielsen, completing the inaugural Hypercar field.
Pérez Companc brings extensive experience from international GT and prototype competition, while Ye and Nielsen provide considerable familiarity with Ferrari’s top-level endurance racing machinery.
Both professional drivers have previously secured outright victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, adding significant experience to the line-up.
Nielsen claimed victory in 2024 alongside Antonio Fuoco and Miguel Molina, while Ye joined Robert Kubica and Phil Hanson in winning the 2025 edition with AF Corse.
The combination provides AF Corse with a competitive driver pairing as it prepares to challenge Cetilar Racing for the inaugural championship.
Although both entries use identical Ferrari 499P machinery, differences in driver experience, setup choices and race strategy could influence their performances across the opening weekend.
Furthermore, AF Corse’s involvement extends beyond Hypercar, with the organisation fielding entries across all three ALMS categories.
CrowdStrike Racing by APR targets another LMP2 title
The LMP2 category will feature 16 Oreca 07-Gibson prototypes, with reigning champions CrowdStrike Racing by APR returning to defend their title.
George Kurtz and Louis Delétraz will continue their partnership in the #4 Oreca, with Porsche factory driver Laurin Heinrich joining them for the 2026/27 campaign.
Kurtz and Delétraz claimed the previous championship following a successful season that delivered another title for the Algarve Pro Racing organisation.
The team will now target a third ALMS championship, although the expanded competition includes several established prototype organisations and former title winners.
Delétraz brings experience from multiple international endurance programmes, while Heinrich has established himself among Porsche’s leading GT racing talents.
The combination of returning champions and a new professional teammate gives the #4 crew a strong foundation, although maintaining consistency throughout the compressed calendar will remain essential.
With an automatic invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans available to the LMP2 champion, the title fight will carry additional significance for the 16 competing teams.
Algarve Pro Racing brings ELMS champions to Le Castellet
Algarve Pro Racing will also operate two cars under its own name, strengthening its presence alongside the CrowdStrike-backed entry.
The #25 Oreca will feature Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli and Malthe Jakobsen, who arrive following a successful 2026 ELMS campaign.
The trio secured the LMP2 Pro/Am championship after a competitive season against established rivals, including TDS Racing and Proton Competition.
Their existing relationship provides continuity as they prepare for another endurance championship, while Jakobsen will attempt to claim a fourth consecutive ALMS LMP2 title.
Meanwhile, the #20 entry will feature Jens Reno Møller, Theodor Jensen and Charlie Wurz. Møller and Jensen previously claimed the 2024/25 ALMS LMP3 title, while Wurz will make the transition into prototype competition.
The team’s three-car presence across its own and CrowdStrike-backed programmes makes Algarve Pro Racing one of the most significant organisations in the LMP2 field.
However, it will face competition from several established teams with extensive experience in the Oreca platform.
United Autosports and former champions strengthen LMP2 field
United Autosports arrives as the reigning ELMS LMP2 champion, having secured another title during the 2026 European campaign.
The British organisation will field two Oreca 07-Gibsons, combining experienced endurance competitors with drivers progressing from other racing categories.
Phil Fayer, Hunter McElrea and Mikkel Jensen will share the #2 entry, while Giorgio Roda, Ian Aguilera and Sting Ray Robb complete the #22 line-up.
Former ALMS champions DKR Engineering and Nielsen Racing also return to the category. DKR secured the 2023 title, while Nielsen claimed championship honours in 2022.
Nielsen will field Steven Thomas, Scott Huffaker and 17-year-old Max Garcia in the #24 Oreca. The line-up combines the experience of two established endurance competitors with Garcia’s successful single-seater background, including consecutive USF2000 and USF Pro 2000 titles.
Meanwhile, reigning ALMS LMP3 champion CLX Motorsport will graduate to LMP2, joining established competitors Duqueine Team and Team Virage.
The combination of previous champions, experienced prototype teams and newcomers should create a competitive field in which qualifying performance and operational consistency will prove particularly important.
Doohan and Hanson headline AF Corse’s LMP2 programme
AF Corse will field two additional Oreca prototypes alongside its Hypercar and GT3 entries, making it the only organisation represented across all three ALMS categories.
The #55 entry features former Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan, 2025 Le Mans winner Phil Hanson and Alex Dimirdjian.
Doohan’s participation represents another opportunity to develop his endurance racing experience, while Hanson brings extensive prototype knowledge and recent success at the highest level.
The sister #83 Oreca will feature Jeremy Clarke, Julien Andlauer and Nicolas Varrone, combining established endurance competitors with drivers experienced in different racing categories.
Proton Competition will also contribute two LMP2 entries. The #11 combines Giorgos Kolovos, Victor Martins and Charles Milesi, while the #66 features Horst Felbermayr Jr., Horst Felix Felbermayr and Ferdinand Habsburg.
Meanwhile, Inter Europol Competition returns with two cars following further success in international prototype racing. The organisation will bring Le Mans-winning experience to the championship, strengthening an already competitive field.
With 16 entries using identical chassis and engine combinations, driver execution, strategy and reliability will play important roles in deciding the opening results.
GT3 field features 28 cars from eight manufacturers
GT3 will form the largest category at Le Castellet, with 28 cars representing eight manufacturers.
Mercedes-AMG leads the manufacturer representation with seven entries, followed by Porsche with six. Ferrari and Aston Martin will each field four cars, while McLaren, Lamborghini and Ford contribute two apiece. BMW completes the field with a single entry.
The confirmed 46-car Le Castellet entry list includes several previous ALMS champions, established GT3 organisations and teams entering the championship for the first time.
Kessel Racing returns following its successful 2025/26 campaign, while Manthey will attempt to regain the title it secured in 2024/25.
Garage 59, Iron Lynx, Heart of Racing and Haupt Racing Team also bring considerable experience from international GT3 competition.
The variety of manufacturers creates additional uncertainty heading into the season, particularly as teams adapt to the championship’s sporting requirements and the demands of four-hour endurance races.
Kessel Racing and Garage 59 begin new GT title battle
Kessel Racing will defend its GT championship with a single Ferrari 296 GT3, competing in the distinctive Car Guy Racing livery.
Takeshi Kimura will share the #57 entry with Mathys Jaubert and Esteban Masson, forming a revised line-up following the team’s previous championship success.
However, reigning GT Drivers’ champions Dustin Blattner and Dennis Marschall have moved to Garage 59, where they will compete alongside Tom Fleming in the #58 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.
The switch introduces a different challenge for the established pairing, which previously secured the title in Ferrari machinery.
Garage 59 will also field a second McLaren for Marco Pulcini, Freddie Tomlinson and Joseph Loake, completing the manufacturer’s two-car presence.
The British outfit’s confirmed driver combinations bring together championship-winning experience and emerging talent.
Both Kessel Racing and Garage 59 will therefore enter the opening weekend with different strengths. While Kessel retains the organisation behind last season’s championship triumph, Garage 59 has recruited two of its successful drivers.
Manthey targets another championship with two Porsches
Manthey returns to ALMS with two Porsche 911 GT3 R Evos as the German organisation attempts to add another title to its endurance racing record.
The team previously secured the 2024/25 championship and will again field competitive driver combinations across both entries.
The #92 Porsche features Max Moritz, Raphael Rennhofer and Klaus Bachler. The latter brings previous ALMS championship success and extensive experience in Porsche machinery.
Meanwhile, the #91 will feature Joel Monegro, Flynt Schuring and Richard Lietz, whose achievements include six class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The combination of experienced Porsche specialists and younger competitors provides Manthey with two competitive entries as it seeks to challenge Kessel Racing and Garage 59.
Porsche will also receive representation from Proton Competition, Herberth Motorsport and High Class Racing.
Proton’s two GT3 entries will feature distinctive retro-inspired liveries, with the #77 paying tribute to the historic ANDIAL IMSA colours and the #99 reviving Porsche’s famous psychedelic 917 design from 1970.
Mercedes-AMG leads GT3 manufacturer representation
Mercedes-AMG will provide the largest GT3 contingent, with seven entries from several established international organisations.
Iron Lynx will make its ALMS debut through partnerships with the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and Craft-Bamboo Racing.
The #62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx entry will feature Abdulla Al-Khelaifi, Julian Hanses and Maxime Martin, continuing a successful relationship following the team’s third-place finish in the 2026 ELMS LMGT3 standings.
Meanwhile, Ameerh Naran, Mikkel Pedersen and Luca Stolz will share the #88 Craft-Bamboo Iron Lynx entry. Stolz replaces Sérgio Sette Câmara for the opening weekend because of a scheduling conflict.
The two-car Iron Lynx programme will face additional competition from fellow Mercedes-AMG teams GetSpeed, Winward Racing, Petrolife Racing Team and 2 Seas Motorsport.
The latter will field two cars, including the #46 for Darren Leung, Guy Albag and Chris Lulham.
With multiple experienced GT3 organisations competing in identical machinery, the Mercedes-AMG entries will face strong competition both within the manufacturer group and against rival brands.
Lamborghini Temerario makes ALMS debut at Le Castellet
The opening weekend will also mark the ALMS debut of the Lamborghini Temerario GT3, with Leipert Motorsport and DFYNE Racing Team introducing the manufacturer’s latest GT3 machinery.
Leipert Motorsport will field the #63 for Lance Bergstein, Nicolas Stati and Brendon Leitch, extending its longstanding partnership with Lamborghini Squadra Corse.
The German outfit’s Temerario GT3 programme marks the model’s first appearance in an Automobile Club de l’Ouest-sanctioned championship.
Meanwhile, DFYNE Racing Team will enter the #93 Lamborghini for Oscar Lee Ryndziewicz, Giovanni Altoè and Giacomo Altoè.
Both organisations will face the challenge of developing their understanding of the new machinery while competing against established GT3 cars.
The Temerario’s introduction represents another milestone in Lamborghini’s transition from the successful Huracán platform, with the new model expanding its international customer racing presence.
The opening races will provide an opportunity to assess the car’s competitiveness against seven other manufacturers under ALMS conditions.
Heart of Racing and Ford add further competition
Heart of Racing will make its ALMS debut with two Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evos, strengthening the manufacturer’s representation in the championship.
The #26 will feature Gray Newell, Eduardo Barrichello and Roman De Angelis, while Ian James, Zacharie Robichon and Mattia Drudi will share the sister #27 entry.
The American team’s confirmed six-driver programme brings experience from IMSA, WEC and international GT3 racing, providing a foundation for its first championship campaign.
Aston Martin will also receive representation from Car Blanche by RSL and Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn, completing its four-car contingent.
Meanwhile, Haupt Racing Team will field two Ford Mustang GT3 Evos, with Arjun Maini, Finn Wiebelhaus and Michael Tosi sharing the #64. The sister #65 will feature Hubert Haupt, David Schumacher and Fabio Scherer.
BMW completes the manufacturer field through Team WRT, which will run a single M4 GT3 Evo for Anthony McIntosh, Parker Thompson and Max Hesse.
The variety of entries ensures that GT3 will feature competition between established manufacturers, returning champions and several new driver partnerships.
Four-hour races place emphasis on consistency and strategy
The opening double-header will introduce an unusual challenge, with teams contesting two separate four-hour races within the same weekend.
Unlike longer endurance events, the compressed format provides limited opportunities to recover from delays, penalties or technical problems during an individual race.
Consequently, qualifying performance will remain important across all three categories, particularly as the large field creates the possibility of heavy traffic during the opening laps.
Teams must also manage driver changes, pit-stop timing and tyre performance while maintaining their positions within the championship’s Pro-Am structure.
The addition of Hypercar introduces another element to traffic management. Although only two cars will compete in the category, their different performance characteristics will create additional interactions with the LMP2 and GT3 fields.
Furthermore, the consecutive race schedule will place demands on reliability and repair procedures. Any damage sustained during Saturday’s race could compromise a team’s preparations for Sunday, potentially affecting its championship prospects before the series leaves France.
2026/27 ALMS 4 Hours of Le Castellet weekend schedule
The opening weekend begins with two Free Practice sessions on Friday, 13 November, followed by separate qualifying sessions for each race. Both four-hour races will begin at 13:15 on Saturday and Sunday.
All times are local Central European Time (CET, UTC+1).
Friday, 13 November
- 10:10 — Free Practice 1
- 13:30 — Free Practice 2
- 16:05 — GT3 Qualifying 1
- 16:25 — GT3 Qualifying 2
- 16:50 — Hypercar and LMP2 Qualifying 1
- 17:10 — Hypercar and LMP2 Qualifying 2
Saturday, 14 November
- 13:15 — 4 Hours of Le Castellet, Race 1
Sunday, 15 November
- 13:15 — 4 Hours of Le Castellet, Race 2
Both races are scheduled to conclude at approximately 17:15 local time, corresponding to a 12:15 GMT start in the United Kingdom.
The championship will broadcast qualifying and both races through its official YouTube channel, while live timing and race coverage will provide additional information throughout the weekend.
The full timetable and event information are available through the official Le Castellet event page, alongside the provisional entry list and spotter guide.
Le Castellet begins new era for Asian Le Mans Series
The 2026/27 ALMS season begins with significant changes to both its calendar and competitive structure, creating an unusual opening weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Cetilar Racing and AF Corse will introduce Hypercar machinery to the championship, while 16 LMP2 entries prepare for a closely contested title fight with an automatic invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans at stake.
Meanwhile, the 28-car GT3 field brings together eight manufacturers, previous champions and several organisations making their championship debuts.
Beyond the individual class battles, the condensed six-race calendar will place considerable importance on reliability, consistency and strong results from the opening weekend.
With two four-hour races scheduled at Le Castellet, the championship will establish its first competitive order before moving to Jerez in January and Portimão in February, beginning a new chapter in the history of the Asian Le Mans Series.
