The European Le Mans Series (ELMS) will reach its dramatic conclusion this Saturday, October 18, as 44 cars take to the Algarve International Racetrack in Portimão for the final round of the 2025 season — the 4 Hours of Portimão.
A total of 129 drivers and 31 teams from 27 nations will compete across the LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3 and LMGT3 categories, with multiple championship titles still up for grabs. Four Portuguese drivers and one home-based team will be part of the grid.
The 13-car LMP2 grid promises a thrilling battle between VDS Panis Racing (Oliver Gray, Charles Milesi and Esteban Masson); IDEC Sport (Jamie Chadwick, Mathys Jaubert and Daniel Juncadella); and Inter Europol Competition (Jakub Smiechowski, Tom Dillmann and Nick Yelloly). These three teams are separated by just seven points in the championship, with the top two finishers earning automatic entries to the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans. Portuguese star Filipe Albuquerque, the 2020 ELMS champion, aims to extend his perfect home podium record alongside Cem Bölükbaşı and Ferdinand. Fellow Portuguese drivers Manuel Espírito Santo and Pedro Perino also line up in the class, while Algarve Pro Racing fields the #20 Oreca for Matthias Kaiser, Lorenzo Fluxa and Théo Pourchaire.
The LMP2 Pro/Am title is equally tight. Championship leaders Kriton Lentoudis, Alex Quinn and Olli Caldwell of Algarve Pro Racing hold a slender nine-point advantage over AO by TF – comprising PJ Hyett, Dane Cameron and Louis Delétraz – with AF Corse’s François Perrodo, Alessio Rovera and Matthieu Vaxiviere also mathematically in contention. A win for the local Algarve squad on home soil would secure both the championship and a coveted Le Mans invitation.
The CLX Motorsport Ligier-Toyota trio of Theodor Jensen, Paul Lanchère and Adrien Closmenil already sealed the 2025 LMP3 title at Silverstone but will aim for a fifth victory in Portimão. Ten cars will contest the category, including Portugal’s Miguel Cristóvão (Eurointernational Ligier), returning after winning at Portimão in 2024.
In LMGT3, half the 13-car grid remains in contention for the title. Richard Mille AF Corse’s Ferrari crew – Lilou Wadoux, Custodio Toledo and Riccardo Agostini – lead by 12 points, chased by Racing Spirit of Léman’s Aston Martin and TF Sport’s Corvette teams. The all-female Iron Dames Porsche team, featuring Sarah Bovy and Michelle Gatting, sits fourth and will be fighting to repeat their memorable Portimão victory of 2022.
The 4 Hours of Portimão begins at 3.30pm on Saturday, with tickets available at www.autodromodoalgarve.com for €10, €25 or €60. Qualification races begin the day before at 4.15pm.
