Chun Ting Chou will aim to continue his strong start to the 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) season when Inter Europol Competition contests the 4 Hours of Le Castellet.
The Taiwanese driver shares the #13 Ligier JS P325-Toyota with Alexander Bukhantsov and Henry Cubides Olarte. The trio opened its ELMS campaign with third place at Barcelona despite starting from the rear of the grid after a technical infringement during Qualifying.
That result made Chou the first Taiwanese driver to secure an ELMS podium. Furthermore, it continued the momentum that the crew established during the 2025/26 Asian Le Mans Series, where it claimed two victories and finished second in the LMP3 championship.
Now, Inter Europol will attempt to convert its proven pace and established driver partnership into another competitive result at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Asian campaign prepared Chou for ELMS step
Chou, Bukhantsov and Cubides Olarte had already developed a productive working relationship before beginning their ELMS campaign.
The three drivers contested the Asian Le Mans Series together with Inter Europol and won two LMP3 races. Their results ultimately secured the championship runner-up position and gave the crew valuable competitive experience with the team’s engineers and mechanics.
Additionally, that programme allowed Chou to understand the car before entering the longer and highly competitive ELMS events. Rather than building every relationship during the Barcelona opener, the trio could immediately focus on performance and race execution.
“The season in Asia definitely helped a lot as I got to work with my teammates, the team and the engineer very well, and also got to know the car well. So, it let me get fully prepared for European Le Mans Series. We’re super confident about the pace, because we know we can do well with this car.”
Consequently, Inter Europol entered the European campaign with a proven package. The drivers already understood each other’s requirements, while the engineering group knew how to provide Chou with a car that suited his driving style.
The Asian results also gave the team confidence that it could compete near the front. However, the ELMS introduced longer races, a deeper field and more frequent encounters with traffic from two other categories.
Barcelona recovery delivers historic podium
Inter Europol displayed its resilience during the opening round at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
A technical infringement during Qualifying removed the #13 crew’s starting position and sent it to the back of the grid. Therefore, Chou and his teammates faced a significant recovery challenge before the four-hour race had even begun.
Nevertheless, the trio steadily progressed through the LMP3 field and reached the podium. Chou also managed difficult traffic as the faster prototypes attempted to pass LMGT3 cars that fought their own battles.
“In Barcelona we got disqualified from the qualifying, so we started from last place and to finish in third was a very good comeback for us. In my stint, I got quite a bit of traffic behind the GTs because they are battling. I think the difficult part is to get past the traffic, but the car is good for me, everything is just right as it should be and we’re very happy with the result.”
The result confirmed Inter Europol’s race pace after its Qualifying setback. Moreover, the crew avoided further complications and executed its recovery strongly enough to collect valuable championship points.
For Chou, third place also marked a significant personal achievement. His first ELMS appearance produced his first podium and established a new milestone for Taiwanese participation in the championship.
However, the team will now want to deliver a cleaner weekend at Le Castellet. A stronger starting position would allow the #13 crew to fight the leaders directly rather than spend the race recovering lost ground.
New-generation LMP3 car transforms Paul Ricard experience
Chou already knows Circuit Paul Ricard from his time in the Ligier European Series. However, the 4 Hours of Le Castellet will give him his first opportunity to race a Le Mans Prototype at the French venue.
The Ligier JS P325-Toyota produces considerably more power and aerodynamic performance than the JS P4 that he previously drove there. As a result, Chou expects a significantly faster experience through both Paul Ricard’s long straights and its demanding high-speed corners.
“Obviously the P4 is a lot slower. They got a much smaller engine and less downforce. So I’m very happy to be driving a bigger wings car in the P3. I like the faster cornering speeds everywhere, also the straight is very important in this new gen car with its bigger turbo. But mainly I just think the pace is very different, and there’s a lot more downforce.”
The third-generation LMP3 car should particularly reward commitment through the second half of the lap. However, Chou must first build confidence in how the Ligier behaves through the circuit’s faster sequences.
Additionally, the increased speed will change his approach to slower traffic. He will close on LMGT3 cars more quickly than he did in the JS P4, giving him less time to assess each overtaking opportunity.
Therefore, Chou must combine the car’s greater performance with the patience and judgement that helped Inter Europol recover at Barcelona.
Paul Ricard presents a distinctive technical test
Circuit Paul Ricard offers a different challenge from the season-opening venue in Barcelona.
While Barcelona features a balanced mixture of corner types, the French circuit places greater emphasis on long straights, heavy braking zones and several technically distinctive sections. In particular, Signes and Beausset demand confidence in the car’s aerodynamic stability.
“This track is quite unique, I would say Barcelona is a default track, and here in Paul Ricard we have long straights and tight corners, like the third and fourth corners. Also, Signes and De Beausset are also very special.”
Consequently, Inter Europol must find an effective balance between top speed and cornering performance. Reducing drag could help the #13 Ligier along the straights, but the drivers will also need sufficient downforce and stability through Paul Ricard’s faster corners.
The circuit’s exposed layout can also make wind direction an important factor. Therefore, the car’s behaviour may change between sessions or even during a single stint.
Chou’s previous experience at the venue should still provide a useful foundation. Although the LMP3 car produces much greater performance, he already understands the circuit’s layout, braking areas and general rhythm.
Chou makes history for Taiwanese motorsport
Chou’s Barcelona result carried significance beyond Inter Europol’s championship campaign.
By finishing third, he became the first Taiwanese driver to secure a podium in the ELMS. The achievement marked an important step for a country with limited representation in international prototype racing.
Motorsport does not yet enjoy the same presence in Taiwan as it does across Europe or the United States. Nevertheless, several individuals continue to develop karting and GT racing programmes, particularly across Asia.
Chou, however, has taken a less common route by pursuing a career in prototype competition.
“Compared to Europe or the USA, motorsport in Taiwan is not big at all, but there are some people working hard in karting, but there are not many drivers that have competed at high levels of racing. There are some racing GTs in Asia or something, but in prototype, I’ll say I’m the very first person to do it like this.
His performances with Inter Europol could consequently increase awareness of endurance racing at home. The Asian Le Mans Series victories already demonstrated his potential, while the Barcelona podium placed him on the European stage.
Chou embraces role as Taiwanese representative
Chou takes considerable pride in representing Taiwan during his ELMS campaign.
His presence gives Taiwanese motorsport supporters a direct connection to one of Europe’s leading endurance championships. Moreover, continued success could encourage greater interest in prototype racing and create a visible pathway for other young drivers.
“Definitely. I’m very proud of representing Taiwan and be the first to compete in ELMS.”
However, Chou must continue producing results to build on the attention created by his opening-round podium. The ELMS LMP3 field features experienced teams and competitive driver line-ups, leaving little margin for mistakes throughout each four-hour race.
Inter Europol has already demonstrated that its #13 crew can recover from adversity. The Asian campaign also proved that Chou, Bukhantsov and Cubides Olarte can win races together.
Therefore, the next objective involves completing a cleaner weekend and challenging at the front from the opening sessions.
Inter Europol seeks another front-running result
The Barcelona podium gave Inter Europol a strong start despite its Qualifying setback. Nevertheless, Le Castellet will provide a new measure of the crew’s championship credentials.
Chou must adapt his previous Paul Ricard knowledge to the faster Ligier, while the team must optimise its package for the circuit’s contrasting straights and high-speed sections. Traffic management will also remain crucial as the LMP3 cars negotiate both LMP2 and LMGT3 competitors.
However, the #13 crew enters Round 2 with confidence, continuity and proven race-winning ability. After two Asian Le Mans Series victories and a recovery podium in Barcelona, Chou and his teammates have already established themselves among the leading LMP3 contenders.
Another strong result at Le Castellet would reinforce that position while allowing Chou to continue raising Taiwan’s profile within international prototype racing.
