The 2024 European Le Mans Series is now at the halfway point, with three races in Barcelona, Le Castellet and Imola completed and thee more races in Spa-Francorchamps, Mugello and Portimao to be run.
After three rounds all of the four classes are finely balanced with the narrowest of margins splitting the main contenders, which promises the prospect of a hard fought run to the finish line in Portugal this October to decide who will be crowned as European Champions.
UPDATE: Following the post race penalty for Panis Racing and the successful appeal by the team (Stewards Decision no31), the LMP2 standings have been updated accordingly (24 July).
In LMP2, 4 Hours of Le Castellet winners Inter Europol Competition maintained their position at the top of the rankings with a fourth place in Imola. The Polish team’s no43 Oreca-Gibson crew of Tom Dillmann, Sebastien Alvarez and Vlad Lomko are on 45 points, 5 points ahead of the 4 Hours of Imola winners Charles Milesi, Arthur Leclerc and Manual Maldonado on 40 points, with Jonny Edgar, Louis Deletraz and Robert Kubica in the no14 AO by TF on 39 points.
The no28 IDEC Sport Oreca is currently fourth on 35 points after scoring two 4th placed finishes, with an extra point for pole in Le Castellet and reigning champions Algarve Pro Racing are 5th in the standings on 28 points.
With the third podium finish of the season in Imola, Round 2 winners Gregoire Saucy, Mathias Beche and Rodrigo Salles in the no29 Richard Mille by TDS Oreca still head the LMP2 Pro/Am standings with 58 points.Reigning champions AF Corse closed the gap slightly after finishing one place ahead of the Richard Mille by TDS and are now on 55 points after three races.
The no20 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca moved up the table to third place after taking the class win at the end of the 4 Hours of Imola and are 13 points behind the lead car on 35 points.
Victory in Italy propelled the no11 Eurointernational Ligier to the top of the standings, with Matt Bell and Adam Ali on 52 points, just 2 points ahead of Round 2 class winners no15 RLR MSport.
The no8 Team Virage Ligier moved up to third in the championship standings after finishing second in Imola and are on 49 points, 12 ahead of the 4thplaced car, the no4 DKR Engineering Duqueine.
The no63 Iron Lynx Lamborghini moved into the top spot after securing a third podium finish from three races. Andrea Caldarelli, Hiroshi Hamaguchi and Axcil Jefferies left Imola with 48 points, 7 points ahead of the no59 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage.
Victory in Imola moved the no85 Iron Dames Porsche up to third place on 40 points, just 8 points behind the leaders and 1 point ahead of Round 2 winners, the no55 Spirit of Race Ferrari 296.
Round 4 of the 2024 European Le Mans Series will be the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 23-25 August.
CLICK HERE for the championship positions after Round 3.
