Entries for the 2026 season of the Ligier European Series will officially open on 1 December 2025. Following its continued success — with 26 Ligier JS P4 and Ligier JS2 R cars on the grid in 2025 — the series, organised by Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM), reaffirms its position as a gateway to the championships of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). For its seventh edition, which will begin in April 2026, the series further enhances its support to drivers: the renewal of its €250,000 prize fund for the overall champions and the introduction of a new scheme dedicated to AM drivers, offering LMP3 and JS P4 test sessions to ease their transition towards higher categories.
Growing and sustained attractiveness
The 2025 season gathered a 26-car field, representing more than 18 nationalities and a wide variety of driver profiles, ranging from 16 to 69 years of age.
The grid welcomed several new teams, including Trajectus Motorsport, VSF Sports, Loire Valley Racing and Petrogold, each joining ACO-sanctioned championships for the first time. Other structures, such as 23Events Racing, expanded their programmes to offer additional opportunities to their drivers. The continued presence of long-standing teams — Team Virage, Pegasus Racing, ANS Motorsport, Les Deux Arbres, LR Motorsport and M Racing — further contributes to the stability and identity of the series.
New features and strengthened support measures for 2026
In 2026, the series renews its prize scheme dedicated to its overall champions. The Ligier JS P4 champion will receive a prize equivalent to €150,000 to step up to the Michelin Le Mans Cup in LMP3 at the wheel of a Ligier JS P325. The Ligier JS2 R champion will receive a prize equivalent to €100,000 to move into the JS P4 category.
A new initiative specifically aimed at AM drivers complements this support structure: the top AM drivers in JS2 R will be awarded a test in the Ligier JS P4, while the top AM competitors in JS P4 will receive a test in the Ligier JS P325. This measure aims to facilitate a structured progression within the ACO endurance ladder.
A firmly established pathway towards ACO championships
The mission of the series is reflected in the progression of its former drivers, many of whom competed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, European Le Mans Series or even the World Endurance Championship in 2025.
Several young talents from the series continued to develop, including Ian Aguilera, Romain Favre and Theo Micouris, all active within ACO championships. Sébastien Baud, the inaugural JS2 R champion in 2020, has competed in LMGT3 in the WEC since 2023.
Gillian Henrion is a standout example of the programme’s effectiveness: crowned JS P4 champion in 2022, he stepped up to the Michelin Le Mans Cup in 2023 thanks to the prize fund he received and secured the LMP3 title at the wheel of the Ligier JS P320. He went on to finish third in LMP3 in ELMS in 2024, before undertaking a dual ELMS / MLMC campaign in 2025 with the Ligier JS P325, concluding with the MLMC Pro/Am title.
The collaboration with the Ligier JS Cup France through the Ligier Junior Programme has also proved successful. Several young drivers from the Cup made their European debut in 2025. Its first Junior Champion in 2024, Romain Boeckler, supported by the dedicated prize fund, competed at the front of the JS P4 field and concluded the season as Vice-Champion and Rookie of the Year.
AM drivers benefit equally from a structured development platform. Among them, Julien Lemoine, JS2 R Champion in 2023, and Louis Stern, who competed in JS2 R in 2024, both progressed to LMP3 within ACO championships in 2025.
A calendar anchored on ACO benchmark circuits
The 2026 season will once again run alongside the Michelin Le Mans Cup and the European Le Mans Series. Competitors will return to several of Europe’s flagship circuits and will have the opportunity to compete on the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit during the Test Day.
Momentum confirmed for 2026
With strengthened support measures, increased opportunities for AM drivers and growing media exposure through live streaming and its partner championships, the Ligier European Series continues to consolidate its position within the endurance racing pathway. The 2026 season builds on this momentum, offering an environment conducive to the development of both drivers and teams.
Practical information
Drivers and teams interested in entering the 2026 season may contact:
Maxime Gaudin, Series Coordinator for LMEM – m.gaudin@europeanlemansseries.com
Entries for the 2026 season will be open from 1 December 2025 to 27 February 2026 at 23:59.
To learn more about the series, download the 2026 season brochure or visit: www.ligiereuropeanseries.com
