Friday: the first reference points of the weekend
From the opening sessions, the ELMS round in Barcelona made it clear that the start of the 2026 season would be shaped by extremely close competition. Even in the first practice session, it became evident that outright pace alone would not be enough to control the weekend. Teams immediately had to deal with traffic, isolated incidents and the need to adapt to changing track conditions. In LMP2, Algarve Pro Racing, IDEC Sport and Inter Europol Competition were among the early standouts. In LMP2 Pro/Am, TDS Racing, Rossa Racing by Virage and Duqueine Team showed strong pace. In LMP3, Inter Europol Competition looked competitive from the first sessions, while in LMGT3 it was already clear on Friday that the class would produce especially tight competition. From the outset, Barcelona looked less like a race that would be defined by the dominance of one team and more like a test of consistency, precision and the ability to react quickly to events.
LMP2: Inter Europol’s speed and Panis’ composure
In the top class, Saturday belonged to Inter Europol Competition. The team was highly competitive in the second practice session, and Reshad De Gerus then claimed pole position, confirming the strong one-lap pace of the No. 34 car. Sunday’s race, however, changed the logic of the weekend. After first-lap incidents, a red flag and extra time added to the race distance, the contest turned into a sequence of strategic decisions, penalties and positional changes.
In that context, Forestier Racing by Panis managed the race better than anyone when it mattered most. The No. 29 crew received multiple penalties during the race, but stayed in contention and reclaimed the lead in the closing stages. The victory was the result not only of pace, but also of the team’s ability to limit losses in a chaotic race. Inter Europol finished second, while still looking like a team capable of fighting for top results throughout the season. United Autosports took third place after making effective use of rivals’ mistakes and the overall development of the race.
LMP2 Pro/Am: a race built over the long distance
The LMP2 Pro/Am subclass once again confirmed that one strong qualifying lap is not enough. Duqueine Team began the weekend in convincing fashion and secured pole position, but in the race the decisive factors were rhythm, consistency and execution over long stints. As the race unfolded, the lead changed hands several times, and in the end Algarve Pro Racing emerged on top.
Their victory was the result of a more complete race, free from major mistakes and significant drops in pace. AF Corse finished second, while Duqueine Team, despite a promising Saturday, completed the podium in third. Barcelona showed once again that even small time losses carry a particularly high cost in Pro/Am competition.
LMP3: one of the tightest classes of the event
LMP3 remained one of the most unpredictable categories throughout the weekend. Different teams led different sessions, which accurately reflected the real balance of performance in the class. R-ace GP looked strongest in qualifying, Inter Europol Competition showed good speed in practice, but in the race it was Rinaldi Racing that made the most of the situation.
The team moved into the lead at the decisive moment and held on to it until the finish. One of the standout performances, however, came from Inter Europol, which recovered from qualifying problems to return to the fight and secure a podium finish. Overall, LMP3 showed from the very first round of the season that the competition will remain extremely close, and that a clear advantage in one session guarantees nothing in the next.
LMGT3: a victory built on precise execution
In LMGT3, the outcome was decided not by clear dominance, but by the efficient distribution of effort over the race distance. Different cars looked competitive over the course of the weekend, once again confirming the strength of the category. Proton Competition delivered a highly disciplined race and capitalised on its opportunity in the final phase.
The No. 75 Porsche crew were not the outright favourites from the beginning of the event, but they reached the final stint in the right position to strike. That ultimately allowed the team to execute the decisive move in the battle for victory. Proton’s success was a clear example of how endurance racing is often decided not by maximum speed at the start of the weekend, but by the ability to preserve pace, avoid mistakes and choose the right moment to attack.
Conclusion
The 2026 4 Hours of Barcelona was an instructive opening round of the new ELMS season. The event clearly showed that in modern endurance racing, victory goes not only to the fastest car, but to the most composed team. In LMP2, the win came through the ability to absorb pressure and recover from penalties. In LMP2 Pro/Am, control over the long distance proved decisive. In LMP3, the density of competition and the cost of every mistake once again defined the result. In LMGT3, success went to the team that used its opportunities more effectively than the rest. Barcelona opened the season with a race in which speed remained essential, but discipline, judgement and composure mattered even more.
