Alex Lynn will make his return to racing with Algarve Pro Racing at the 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) season finale in Portimão, reuniting with the team that helped him secure the 2023 LMP2 title.
The Briton will join Jake Hughes and Matthias Kaiser in the No. 25 Oreca 07-Gibson for the 4 Hours of Portimão on 10 October. Lynn replaces Ben Barnicoat, who helped the Portuguese team claim its first victory of the 2026 season last time out at Silverstone. The official ELMS entry list confirms Lynn among a 47-car field for the championship finale.
The appearance will precede Lynn’s planned FIA World Endurance Championship return with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA at the 6 Hours of Barcelona from 16–18 October.
Lynn reunites with Algarve Pro Racing
Portimão will mark Lynn’s first LMP2 appearance since he raced with Algarve Pro Racing during the 2024 ELMS season.
However, his relationship with the team stretches back further. Lynn helped Algarve Pro Racing claim the 2023 ELMS LMP2 championship before returning for the following campaign. The team secured that title ahead of United Autosports and also earned an automatic invitation to the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Lynn now returns to an APR squad carrying momentum into its home event. Kaiser, Hughes and Barnicoat won the rain-affected previous round at Silverstone, with the No. 25 Oreca finishing 17.995 seconds clear of its nearest challenger. The victory marked Algarve Pro Racing’s first ELMS LMP2 win in three years and made it the fourth different overall winner through the opening five rounds.
Kaiser and Hughes will retain their places for Portimão, while Lynn steps into the third seat for the final race.
Portimão precedes planned WEC comeback
The ELMS finale will also provide Lynn with competitive mileage immediately before his planned return to Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA.
Lynn has spent much of 2026 away from competition while addressing an ongoing neck issue. He underwent surgery in June before beginning a structured rehabilitation and car-based recovery programme.
Cadillac previously confirmed that Lynn would rejoin Will Stevens and Norman Nato in the No. 12 Cadillac V-Series.R for the final two WEC rounds in Barcelona and Monza. His scheduled Portimão appearance therefore moves his competitive comeback forward by one week.
The ELMS outing also gives Lynn an opportunity to reacquaint himself with prototype machinery in familiar surroundings before stepping back into Hypercar competition.
Algarve Pro Racing targets strong home finale
Although the No. 25 Algarve Pro Racing entry cannot win the 2026 LMP2 championship, the team still has plenty to pursue at its home race.
United Autosports leads the standings with 85 points, 13 clear of reigning champion Forestier Racing by Panis. Algarve Pro Racing sits third on 54 points following its Silverstone victory and remains in contention for one of the automatic invitations to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Lynn, Hughes and Kaiser will therefore enter Portimão aiming to build on APR’s breakthrough Silverstone result while the championship battle unfolds around them.
The appearance also gives Lynn the opportunity to return with a team he knows well before switching his focus back to the WEC. Following the 4 Hours of Portimão, he is scheduled to travel to Barcelona to resume his Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA programme alongside Stevens and Nato.
Several line-up changes confirmed for Portimão
Lynn’s return forms part of several driver changes for the 2026 ELMS finale.
Pipo Derani will join Ed Pearson and Roy Nissany in the No. 24 Nielsen Racing Oreca, while Tristan Vautier moves into DKR Engineering’s No. 3 LMP2 Pro/Am entry alongside Jean Glorieux and Marlon Hernandez.
In LMP3, Oskar Kristensen will make his ELMS debut with Racing Spirit of Léman. He joins Lenny Ried and Ralph Meichtry in the No. 31 Ligier JS P325-Toyota.
Meanwhile, LMGT3 championship leader Team Qatar by Iron Lynx retains Ralf Aron alongside Abdulla Ali Al-Khelaifi and Julien Hanses following the trio’s Silverstone victory. Racing Spirit of Léman will also return to its original Aston Martin line-up of Clément Mateu, Valentin Hasse-Clot and Marius Fossard.
The 4 Hours of Portimão will take place on 10 October and conclude the six-round 2026 ELMS season, with all four class championships still undecided heading into the finale.
