Forestier Racing by Panis Win ELMS Season Opener in Barcelona

The 2026 European Le Mans Series season opened with a dramatic 4 Hours of Barcelona, as Forestier Racing by Panis secured victory after a chaotic and interrupted race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

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Chaotic Start Sets the Tone

The race began under difficult conditions, with a multi-car incident early on bringing out a red flag and disrupting the opening phase.

Once the race resumed, strategy quickly came into play as teams worked to recover lost time and reposition themselves in a tightly packed field.

The interruption extended the race and set up an unpredictable battle through the remaining hours.

Forestier Racing by Panis Take Control Late

The #29 Oreca of Forestier Racing by Panis, driven by Esteban Masson, Oliver Gray, and Louis Rousset, fought through the field to secure victory.

Despite time penalties and falling down the order at points during the race, the team executed a strong recovery in the closing stages.

Masson delivered a decisive final stint, making key overtakes in the last minutes to take the lead and build a gap to the chasing pack.

The team crossed the line 13 seconds clear of Inter Europol Competition, with United Autosports completing the overall podium.

Class Winners Across the Field

Behind the overall battle, strong performances were seen across all categories.

Algarve Pro Racing secured victory in LMP2 Pro/Am, continuing their consistent form in the category.

Rinaldi Racing took the win in LMP3 after a close multi-car battle that ran throughout the race.

In LMGT3, Proton Competition claimed victory with the Porsche 911, holding off pressure from United Autosports and Kessel Racing in the closing stages.

Close Racing Defines the Opening Round

The final stages of the race saw multiple LMP2 cars fighting for position, with the lead changing hands in the closing minutes.

A combination of strategy, penalties, and on-track battles kept the outcome uncertain until the final laps, highlighting the depth of competition across the grid.

The race underlined the strength of the 2026 ELMS field, with small margins separating teams throughout.

Strong Start to the 2026 ELMS Season

The 4 Hours of Barcelona marked the opening round of a six-race calendar that will run across Europe, culminating later in the year.

With a competitive grid and unpredictable racing already on display, the season is set up for a close championship battle.

The next round takes place at Le Castellet, where teams will look to build early momentum.

A chaotic opening round in Barcelona has set the tone for the 2026 ELMS season, with Forestier Racing by Panis delivering a statement win to begin their title defence.

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