Reshad de Gerus will begin his fifth European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP2 campaign with Inter Europol Competition as the French driver targets a championship challenge in 2026.
The 22-year-old from Réunion will share the #34 Oreca 07-Gibson with Bijoy Garg. His move places him within the team that finished second in the 2025 ELMS championship and won the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
De Gerus entered the ELMS with Duqueine Team in 2022 before representing COOL Racing and IDEC Sport. Although podium results have proved difficult to secure, he has repeatedly demonstrated his outright pace, including pole positions at Barcelona in 2023 and 2025.
Furthermore, De Gerus believes Inter Europol’s established technical foundation will allow the #34 crew to concentrate on the smaller details that decide races in an increasingly competitive LMP2 field.
Barcelona holds positive memories for De Gerus
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host the opening round and give De Gerus his first competitive appearance with Inter Europol.
The French driver has already achieved considerable Qualifying success at the Spanish venue. He secured his first ELMS pole there in 2023 before returning to the top of the timing screens during the 2025 event.
Moreover, Barcelona’s varied second sector provides one of his favourite technical challenges. The section combines slower corners with the high-speed Turn 9, forcing drivers to balance mechanical grip, aerodynamic confidence and precise positioning.
“Barcelona is one of my favourite tracks. It’s always a pleasure to start the season there, and I have great memories, including my first pole position in ELMS back in 2023.
“My favourite section is sector 2, which combines slow-speed corners like Turn 5 with a very high-speed corner like Turn 9. It’s very technical, and as a driver you can gain or lose a lot of time in this section.”
Consequently, Barcelona offers De Gerus a familiar setting as he starts his latest LMP2 programme. However, previous pole positions will not guarantee another strong result, particularly because he must continue integrating into a new team and driver combination.
Nevertheless, his circuit knowledge should allow him to focus more closely on adapting to Inter Europol’s procedures and extracting the maximum from the #34 Oreca.
Existing relationships ease Inter Europol transition
Although De Gerus has joined a new team, he already knows several members of the Inter Europol operation from earlier stages of his career.
Those existing relationships have helped him settle into the team more quickly. Meanwhile, he has started developing a partnership with Garg as the pair prepares to share the car throughout the six-round campaign.
Both drivers enter the season with significant ambition. Therefore, De Gerus believes their similar ages and shared desire to succeed can support a productive working relationship.
“First of all, I’m really pleased to be joining Inter Europol Competition for this season. I’ve worked with some of the team members in the past, which made it easier to settle in. I didn’t know Bijoy personally before, but we’re getting to know each other as we go along. We’re both young and share the same desire to win.”
The two-driver format will also create a different dynamic from the traditional three-person ELMS line-up. De Gerus and Garg will complete more driving during each event, while Inter Europol can explore alternative stint lengths and strategic approaches.
However, the arrangement also places greater responsibility on both competitors. They must remain consistent across multiple stints, manage fatigue and ensure that their set-up preferences complement each other.
Difficult 2025 campaign provides valuable lessons
De Gerus finished fourth in the 2025 LMP2 standings and again demonstrated his speed through his Barcelona pole position. Nevertheless, his previous campaign demanded more than strong individual performances.
In particular, he developed his ability to support technical progress and help a team improve its performance throughout a season. He now carries those lessons into an operation that has already established itself among the championship’s leading contenders.
“I learnt a lot from the 2025 season, particularly in my ability to help a team improve technically and achieve strong performance.
“With Inter Europol Competition it will be a bit different. In recent years, they have established themselves as one of the top teams in the championship, with a very solid foundation. This allows us to focus on the finer details to achieve strong results. The target is clear — we want to fight for the championship with both cars.”
As a result, De Gerus expects a different type of challenge in 2026. Instead of helping to create the foundations of a competitive package, he can work with Inter Europol to refine an already proven operation.
Small improvements in tyre preparation, traffic management, pit execution and set-up could therefore make the difference between scoring solid points and fighting for victories.
Additionally, Inter Europol’s two-car structure gives the team more data and strategic options. The returning #43 crew of Jakub Śmiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly brings complete continuity after winning at Le Mans and finishing second in the 2025 ELMS standings.
Consequently, both entries can support the team’s development while pursuing their own championship objectives.
Factory drivers strengthen the LMP2 field
The 2026 ELMS LMP2 field includes successful endurance racers, established factory drivers and competitors with experience across several leading international categories.
De Gerus believes the championship has reached its highest standard since he joined the grid in 2022. However, rather than viewing that increased competition negatively, he welcomes the opportunity to test himself against stronger rivals.
“The 2026 grid is incredibly competitive, with many factory drivers joining ELMS. It’s probably the strongest grid I’ve seen since I started in the championship in 2022. The level is definitely stepping up, and that’s exactly what we want as drivers if we are to keep improving.”
The category’s identical Oreca 07-Gibson machinery further intensifies the contest. Teams cannot rely on major differences in chassis or engine performance, so the drivers, engineers and pit crews must create their own advantages.
Moreover, the championship’s four-hour format gives teams several ways to influence a race through strategy. Safety Cars, Full Course Yellows and traffic can rapidly change the order, while small errors can erase the gains created through outright speed.
Therefore, De Gerus and Garg must combine pace with consistency if they want to mount a sustained title challenge.
Podium sets realistic target for Inter Europol debut
De Gerus naturally wants to begin the season with pole position and victory. His previous Barcelona performances have already shown that he can produce the one-lap pace required to start at the front.
However, he also recognises the importance of establishing a strong foundation during his first race with Inter Europol. Accordingly, he would consider a podium finish a positive opening result.
“In an ideal weekend, you always want to secure pole position and win the race. But for my first race with Inter Europol Competition, I would already be very happy to finish on the podium.”
A podium would give the #34 crew valuable early championship points while confirming that De Gerus and Garg can challenge the established combinations.
At the same time, the team must avoid forcing the result if circumstances work against it. The ELMS rewards consistency across only six rounds, so a retirement or major points loss can quickly damage a championship campaign.
Inter Europol will therefore need to balance its ambition with disciplined execution throughout the Barcelona weekend.
Triathlon supports De Gerus’ physical preparation
Away from motorsport, De Gerus maintains his fitness through cycling and triathlon.
He entered his first triathlon during 2025 and finished on the podium in his category. The discipline’s combination of swimming, cycling and running also supports the physical endurance required for repeated stints in an LMP2 car.
“I’m a big sports fan in general. I cycle a lot and started getting into triathlons last year. I was lucky enough to take part in my first race at the end of the year, where I finished on the podium in my category. I try to be as versatile as possible.”
That varied training should prove particularly useful in Inter Europol’s two-driver line-up. De Gerus and Garg may need to complete more running than competitors who divide the race between three drivers, placing additional emphasis on fitness, concentration and recovery.
Furthermore, De Gerus’ approach reflects the adaptability that he wants to demonstrate during his fifth ELMS campaign.
De Gerus prepares for strongest opportunity yet
De Gerus enters 2026 with extensive LMP2 experience despite his young age.
Since making the switch from single-seaters, he has competed with several established teams and repeatedly demonstrated his Qualifying speed. However, Inter Europol now gives him an opportunity to convert that potential into more consistent podium finishes and a full championship challenge.
The team has already proved that it can win at Le Mans and fight for the ELMS title. Meanwhile, De Gerus brings four seasons of championship knowledge, two Barcelona pole positions and the technical experience gained during his 2025 campaign.
Barcelona will provide the first measure of the new partnership. Although De Gerus would welcome a podium on his Inter Europol debut, both the driver and team have set a larger objective for the complete season: fight for the 2026 ELMS LMP2 championship with both cars.
