2019 European Le Mans Series season preview

The 2019 European Le Mans Series season begins this weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard with the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. Before weekend’s programme, all ELMS teams had a two-day official test at the same track, making final preparations for the 15th season of the major European sports car and prototype endurance championship sanctioned by the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest).

The 2019 season features six events, the same number as in 2018, with one change on a schedule. Alongside Le Castellet, Monza, Silverstone, Spa and Portimao, Barcelona will host one race as a replacement for Red Bull Ring.

Following a two-day official test, Circuit Paul Ricard will host the first round of the 2019 ELMS season

The ELMS grid in 2019 will have 41 cars divided into three categories – LMP2 (18 cars), LMP3 (14 cars) and LMGTE (9 cars). The cars will be operated by the teams and drivers from twenty-five different nations from all over the globe. The huge international grid will feature the biggest ever LMP2 grid and the largest gathering of LMP2 cars outside of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The first among equals is the #26 LMP2 Aurus 01 entered by the reigning LMP2 champions, G-Drive Racing. The reigning LMP2 champion Roman Rusinov is returning to defend his title and is joined by LMP3 champion Job Van Uitert and former GP2/F2 driver Norman Nato, who switched to endurance racing last year.

Andrea Pizzitola, another LMP2 co-champion from last year, switches from G-Drive Racing to Algarve Pro Racing to drive the #25 Oreca alongside Americans Mark Patterson and 2017 LMP3 champion John Falb. RLR M Sport, the team that won LMP3 title in 2018, moved up to the LMP2 category with reigning champion John Farano being joined by reigning FIA WEC LMP2 champion Bruno Senna and young driver from India Arjun Maini.

G-Drive Racing will try to win another ELMS LMP2 title

Last year’s LMP3 champions RLR MSport will also run an LMP3 Ligier alongside their LMP2 Oreca. Their main rivals in 2018, Inter Europol Competition, are returning with two cars in the LMP3 class. The former champions United Autosports will also field a two-car entry with 2016 champions Christian England and Mike Guasch in the #3 Ligier.

The nine-car LMGTE class will have two brands again, Ferrari and Porsche, with four cars from the Italian manufacturer and five German machines on the grid. Last year’s LMGTE champions Proton Competition are back on the grid with completely new driver line up in the #88 Porsche 911 RSR.

Among nine GT crews, there will be one all-female crew, the first ever on the ELMS grid. Manuela Gostner, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting will share the #83 Ferrari 488 GTE of Kessel Racing, preparing at ELMS races for their biggest test in June when they will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Meet Rooky, the new ELMS mascot

2019 European Le Mans Series entry list

Photos: Mike Hoyer/JEP, Jakob Ebrey Photography/ELMS,