Akkodis ASP Team will target another FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) podium at the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo after reviving its LMGT3 campaign at Le Mans. The French squad endured technical problems during the opening rounds at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps. However, its two Lexus RC F LMGT3 entries responded with second and fourth places at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The No. 78 Lexus of Tom van Rompuy, Jack Hawksworth and Hadrien David collected 36 points at La Sarthe, lifting the crew to third in the LMGT3 Teams’ standings. Team founder Jérôme Policand now wants Akkodis to carry that momentum into Brazil, where it claimed its first WEC victory 12 months ago.
Le Mans rescues difficult start to the season
Akkodis entered its third WEC season with high expectations, but technical issues immediately disrupted its campaign at Imola. The No. 87 Lexus retired during the opening hour, while the No. 78 car finished last in class and 23 laps behind the winner. Spa then delivered another setback when the pole-sitting No. 78 retired, although the sister car salvaged sixth place.
Those results left Akkodis with little room for further mistakes. However, Le Mans offered double points and an opportunity to transform the championship picture.
“It was our final opportunity to bounce back – a crucial turning-point for us,” Policand told FIAWEC.com. “If we hadn’t achieved a good result, the championship wouldn’t have been entirely lost, but we would have used our last joker…”
The team responded with its strongest collective result since entering LMGT3. Both cars remained near the front throughout the race and completed the 24 hours without mechanical trouble.
Lexus strengths emerge at La Sarthe
The Circuit de la Sarthe suited the Lexus more effectively than the slower, tighter sections that had exposed its weaknesses elsewhere.
Its stability and performance through medium and high-speed corners allowed both crews to challenge the leading LMGT3 entries. Policand had already seen those characteristics during Akkodis’ difficult debut season with the car.
“Even during our first season, when we were struggling, Le Mans was the circuit that suited us best,” the Frenchman explains. “The characteristics of the Lexus mean we struggle more in sinuous parts.”
Akkodis also drew on Policand’s experience from 13 Le Mans appearances as a driver. The team began preparing for the event immediately after the previous edition and used Test Day to build confidence in the car.
Each session allowed the engineers to refine the set-up and strengthen the drivers’ understanding of the available tyre and strategic options.
Hyperpole performance rewards preparation
Akkodis converted its preparation into third and fourth positions on the LMGT3 grid. The strong Hyperpole performance placed both Lexus entries in immediate contention and confirmed their pace before the race began.
“All-in-all, we had a solid week.”
However, Le Mans demanded more than qualifying speed. Akkodis needed to combine pace with fuel management, traffic awareness and reliability across a full day of racing.
Both cars moved towards the front during the opening stages and maintained a relentless pace. The Lexus also joined the BMW M4 as one of only two LMGT3 models capable of completing 11-lap stints.
Race pace forces strategic compromise
Akkodis initially planned to maximise the Lexus’ fuel efficiency by running 11-lap stints for much of the race. However, the competitive pace at the front forced the team to reconsider. Extending each stint risked allowing its rivals to build an advantage while the Lexus drivers conserved fuel.
“It was really tricky,” confided the Team Manager. “When the pack picked up the pace, we had to stay in touch and therefore sacrifice that advantage. We had planned on 11-lap stints for almost the whole race, but we had to abandon that strategy.”
The team instead prioritised remaining within the leading group. That decision kept both cars in contention but removed one of the strategic advantages Akkodis had expected to use.
Nevertheless, the Lexus entries continued without mechanical problems. Their reliability contrasted sharply with the technical setbacks that had affected the opening two rounds.
TF Sport uses aggressive strategy to claim victory
The No. 78 Lexus remained in the victory fight during the closing stages, but TF Sport’s No. 33 Corvette ultimately controlled the class. TF Sport maximised Ben Keating’s track time early in the race, allowing the Bronze-rated driver to complete his minimum requirement after only eight hours. That approach gave the team greater flexibility later.
“They decided to maximise the track time of their Bronze driver – Ben Keating – who completed his minimum driving time after only eight hours of racing. It was a smart move on their part, and their top speed was impressive,” Policand acknowledged.
The Corvette’s straight-line performance also helped it defend and overtake around Le Mans’ long straights. Akkodis could not match that combination of strategy and top speed during the decisive phase. However, the French squad still faced a choice between chasing victory and protecting a result that could revive its championship campaign.
Akkodis protects second as temperatures rise
Tyre marbles began blocking the No. 78 Lexus’ radiator during the closing hours, pushing its water temperature towards the limit. Rather than risk a mechanical failure, Akkodis reduced its pursuit of the Corvette and secured second place.
“The water temperature was reaching the limit. You don’t often get a chance to win Le Mans, but on the other hand, there is a championship to think about. Securing a second-place finish meant playing it smart to stay in the title hunt.”
The decision ensured van Rompuy, Hawksworth and David collected 36 points. Meanwhile, the No. 87 completed Akkodis’ successful event by finishing fourth.
Those results changed the direction of the team’s season. Instead of leaving Le Mans with its championship hopes fading, Akkodis climbed into the leading group ahead of the final five rounds.
Podium brings satisfaction after early setbacks
The double finish rewarded the extensive preparation that Akkodis had completed before the event. Policand joined van Rompuy, Hawksworth and David on the podium as the team celebrated a result that restored confidence throughout the operation.
“It’s a special, unique moment. When hard work pays off, the satisfaction is always great.”
However, Akkodis cannot rely on its Le Mans performance alone. The team must now deliver consistently across circuits that may not suit the Lexus as naturally.
São Paulo provides the first opportunity to prove that its recovery extends beyond one favourable venue.
São Paulo revives memories of maiden victory
Akkodis claimed its first WEC victory at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace during the 2025 season. The team surprised its rivals by managing the Goodyear hard-compound tyre more effectively than the rest of the LMGT3 field. Extensive private testing had prepared the squad for the compound’s behaviour before the event.
“We had tested them extensively in private sessions. Not only did we experience less wear, but we also gained in competitiveness. Right from the first few laps, we knew we had a shot.”
That success gives Akkodis confidence before its return to Brazil. Nevertheless, the absence of the hard tyre in 2026 removes the advantage that helped the Lexus claim victory last year.
The team must therefore find another route towards the front through set-up work, clean execution and the strength of its driver line-ups.
Policand demands another leading result
Policand refuses to use the tyre change as an excuse. He believes Akkodis possesses two of the strongest driver combinations in the LMGT3 field and expects both cars to compete near the front.
“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in the leading pack. Looking at the 18 LMGT3 crews, I believe we have two of the top six driver line-ups in the championship, so we have to deliver results. We want to finish on the podium, just like last year.”
A second consecutive São Paulo podium would confirm the progress that Akkodis displayed at Le Mans. It would also strengthen the No. 78 crew’s position in an increasingly competitive title fight.
However, the circuit’s tighter sections may test the Lexus more severely than La Sarthe. Akkodis must therefore use practice to minimise its weaknesses while maintaining the stability and reliability that supported its Le Mans result.
Lexus RC F approaches possible final WEC races
The closing five rounds of 2026 may mark the final WEC appearances for the Lexus RC F. Akkodis has raced the model in LMGT3 since the category’s introduction in 2024 and has developed a close connection with the car during that period.
“We’ve grown attached to this car. We never doubted it. Through its bodywork and design, it gives off a special aura. We all feel nostalgic.”
The RC F made its competitive debut a decade ago. Although its final WEC campaign began with disappointment, the Le Mans performance demonstrated that it can still challenge the category’s newest machinery.
Akkodis now wants to give the car a successful conclusion before the expected arrival of the Toyota GR LMGT3.
Toyota relationship shapes Akkodis future
The 2027 WEC season could introduce Toyota’s new GT3 model, and Akkodis hopes to operate the car when it reaches international competition. The team has already strengthened its relationship with Toyota through technical homologation work, upgrade programmes and simulator development.
“Our partnership with TOYOTA RACING regarding upgrades, technical homologations and simulator programmes has allowed the team to take a major step forward. Being backed by a manufacturer like that is a privilege. Its results speak for themselves,” Policand concluded.
Before that new chapter begins, Akkodis still has a championship campaign to complete with the Lexus RC F.
Le Mans returned the team to contention and restored confidence after a difficult opening. São Paulo must now show whether that result represented a circuit-specific success or the beginning of a sustained title challenge.
