The road to the 95th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is already underway, with five European Le Mans Series teams and two drivers recognised through the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship securing invitations for the 2027 race.
The endurance classic will take place from 9–13 June 2027, but several prospective entries already know that their performances during the 2026 season have earned them a route onto the grid. United Autosports, Forestier Racing by Panis, Algarve Pro Racing, CLX Motorsport and TF Sport all secured invitations through the ELMS, while George Kurtz and Orey Fidani received invitations through IMSA’s Jim Trueman and Bob Akin awards respectively.
Those seven invitations represent only the first part of the picture. Further places will become available through the 2026–2027 Asian Le Mans Series, meaning the entry list will continue to take shape over the coming months.
Five ELMS teams earn Le Mans invitations
The conclusion of the 2026 ELMS season confirmed five automatic invitations across the LMP2 and LMGT3 categories. United Autosports secured one after winning the overall LMP2 championship, while Forestier Racing by Panis earned another by finishing second in the standings. Both teams must use their invitations in LMP2.
United completed its championship-winning campaign by taking the title in Portimão, while Forestier Racing by Panis finished the season as runner-up. Their final championship positions ensured that both teams earned places at Le Mans, rewarding campaigns that kept them at the front of the LMP2 field throughout the year.
Algarve Pro Racing also earned an LMP2 invitation after winning the 2026 LMP2 Pro/Am championship. The Portuguese team secured the class title during the final round of the season, adding another Le Mans opportunity to its record in prototype competition.
CLX Motorsport will also receive an invitation to compete in LMP2 after winning the LMP3 championship. Although the team secured its ELMS success in the third-tier prototype class, its automatic entry must be used in LMP2. The invitation therefore gives CLX the opportunity to take on a higher-level prototype programme at Le Mans after completing its title-winning 2026 campaign.
TF Sport completes the group of five ELMS invitees. The British team retained the LMGT3 championship and earned an invitation that must be used in the same category at Le Mans. Its success ensures another appearance at the endurance classic after a season in which it remained in title contention through to the final round.
The five ELMS invitations therefore go to United Autosports and Forestier Racing by Panis through the overall LMP2 classification, Algarve Pro Racing through the LMP2 Pro/Am title, CLX Motorsport through the LMP3 championship and TF Sport through the LMGT3 crown.
Kurtz and Fidani earn invitations through IMSA
Two additional invitations have been awarded through the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with George Kurtz and Orey Fidani both earning opportunities to compete at Le Mans.
Kurtz received the Jim Trueman Award, which is presented within IMSA’s prototype competition and provides him with an invitation to race at Le Mans in LMP2. The award gives Kurtz a direct route into the race and adds another North American representative to the early group of confirmed invitees.
Fidani earned his place by finishing as the highest-ranked Bronze-rated driver in the GTD class and receiving the Bob Akin Award. His invitation must be used in LMGT3, giving him the opportunity to compete in the production-based category at the 95th edition of the race.
Together, the two IMSA awards extend the initial list of invitees beyond the teams that secured their places through European competition. They also underline the different routes available to earn an invitation, with championship success and individual recognition both contributing to the formation of the Le Mans grid.
More invitations to come through Asian Le Mans Series
The seven confirmed invitations represent only the beginning of the process, with several more places still to be awarded before the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans entry list is finalised.
The next opportunities will come through the 2026–2027 Asian Le Mans Series, which begins on 13 November. Results from that championship will add further automatic invitees and continue shaping the field before attention eventually turns towards the full Le Mans entry selection.
For United Autosports, Forestier Racing by Panis, Algarve Pro Racing, CLX Motorsport and TF Sport, their 2026 ELMS results have already provided certainty months before race week. Kurtz and Fidani have achieved the same through their respective IMSA awards, meaning each already has the opportunity to prepare for one of the biggest events in endurance racing.
With the 95th edition scheduled for 9–13 June 2027, the Le Mans grid remains far from complete, but the first pieces are already in place. More invitations will follow as the remaining endurance championships unfold, gradually bringing together the teams and drivers that will contest the next edition of the 24-hour classic.
