Strong Season with Runner-Up Titles: Rinaldi Racing Impresses in the 2026 European Le Mans Series

The 2026 European Le Mans Series was a season full of highlights, sporting success and emotional moments for Rinaldi Racing. With a race victory, further podium finishes and a strong overall performance throughout the season, the team from Mendig ultimately secured an excellent second place in both the team and drivers’ championships in the LMP3 category.
Competing with the Ligier JS P325 and its driver line-up of Alvise Rodella, José Fernandes Cautela and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen, Rinaldi Racing took on the highly competitive field in one of Europe’s leading endurance racing series. Across the six rounds of the season, the team demonstrated its potential and regularly ranked among the fastest and most competitive entries.

Successful Season Opener in Barcelona – First Victory for Rinaldi Racing
The new season got underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. From the very first race weekend, Rinaldi Racing was well prepared. In an eventful race that had to be interrupted for an extended period by a red flag following several incidents in the early stages, the team remained composed and worked its way to the front of the LMP3 field with a strong and consistent performance.
José Fernandes Cautela, Alvise Rodella and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen delivered a convincing team performance, bringing the Ligier JS P325 across the finish line after four hours as winners of the LMP3 category. The first victory of the season was secured, providing an ideal start to the championship campaign.
With this result in Barcelona, Rinaldi Racing made its ambitions for the 2026 season clear from an early stage.

Le Castellet – A Challenging Second Race Weekend
For the second round of the season, the European Le Mans Series travelled to the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet. Following the successful season opener in Spain, Rinaldi Racing was aiming to build on its strong performance and collect further valuable championship points.
The race developed into an intense contest, with numerous position changes throughout the LMP3 field. In particular, the leading group was involved in a close battle for much of the race.
For Rinaldi Racing, however, the weekend did not go as hoped. A fifth-place finish in the LMP3 category remained out of reach, and the team had to settle for seventh in class. The focus therefore shifted quickly to putting the weekend behind them and looking ahead to the next round in Italy.

Imola – Strong Recovery and Second Place
At the third round of the season, held at the historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Rinaldi Racing made an impressive comeback. With its fast corners, tight sections and limited overtaking opportunities, the demanding circuit once again required the utmost concentration from both drivers and teams.
The driver line-up of Rodella, Cautela and Pedersen delivered a strong performance throughout the four-hour race, consistently holding their position among the leading contenders in the LMP3 category. In the end, Rinaldi Racing secured second place.

Spa-Francorchamps – Victory on Track, Decision Made After the Race
The fourth round of the season at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was to become one of the most emotional moments of the entire campaign.
The four-hour race on the challenging Ardennes circuit was marked by numerous incidents and a total of six Safety Car periods. Under such difficult conditions, a well-judged strategy, flawless pit stops and strong driving performances were crucial.
Rinaldi Racing delivered an outstanding race. In an impressive display, the driver trio brought the Ligier JS P325 to the front of the LMP3 field. Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen eventually crossed the finish line with a lead of around 54 seconds over the competition. On track, Rinaldi Racing had secured a commanding victory.
However, the joy of what appeared to be the team’s second win of the season was short-lived. During the subsequent technical inspection, officials found that the car’s fuel tank capacity exceeded the permitted maximum. The stewards therefore decided to exclude the car from the final classification.
It was a bitter decision for the entire team, particularly after such a strong performance over the full race distance. Nevertheless, the sporting achievement on track remains: the drivers had won the race by a substantial margin and delivered an impressive performance both behind the wheel and in terms of race strategy.
The decision represented a setback in the championship battle, but did not change the team’s motivation or its underlying performance potential.

Silverstone – Challenging Conditions on British Soil
For the fifth round of the season, the European Le Mans Series returned to Silverstone. The historic British circuit once again presented a demanding challenge for all competitors.
The weather played a particularly important role. Heavy rain around the halfway point of the race led to changing track conditions and forced teams to make difficult strategic decisions. Choosing the right tyres and timing pit stops correctly were crucial factors in the battle for positions.
Rinaldi Racing experienced a difficult race. Following a challenging race, the team finished fifth in the LMP3 category.

Portimão – Strong Season Finale and Runner-Up Finish
The season finale took place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão. Rinaldi Racing aimed to end the season with another strong result and secure the best possible position in the championship standings.
Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen had already delivered a strong performance in qualifying. With just 0.289 seconds separating him from pole position, he qualified the Rinaldi Ligier in second place on the LMP3 grid.
The race initially developed into an intense battle at the front. CLX Motorsport took the lead, while Rinaldi Racing maintained the pressure and remained firmly among the chasing group.
Rinaldi Racing took its opportunity and focused on delivering a mistake-free performance. After four hours, the Ligier JS P325, driven by José Fernandes Cautela, Alvise Rodella and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen, crossed the finish line in second place in the LMP3 category.
This result provided a strong finish to an eventful season. It also confirmed that Rinaldi Racing would finish the championship in second place in both the team and drivers’ standings.

Runner-Up in Both the Team and Drivers’ Championships – A Strong Overall Achievement
With two victories in Barcelona and Spa-Francorchamps – although the Spa result was subsequently annulled – as well as podium finishes in Imola and Portimão, Rinaldi Racing can look back on a successful season in the 2026 European Le Mans Series.
Particular credit goes to the driver line-up of Alvise Rodella, José Fernandes Cautela and Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen. Throughout the season, the three drivers impressed with their speed, commitment and excellent teamwork. Each driver made an important contribution to the team’s achievements.
The entire crew working behind the car also faced an intensive challenge throughout the season. From technical preparation and race strategy to pit stops, maintaining a consistently high level of performance was essential across the six rounds of this endurance championship.
The post-race disqualification at Spa was undoubtedly a bitter moment. However, it should not overshadow the performance delivered by the drivers and the team that weekend. Winning by more than 50 seconds on track speaks for itself and underlines the potential of the entire squad.
Ultimately, Rinaldi Racing secured two runner-up titles in the LMP3 category – finishing second in both the team and drivers’ championships. An achievement the team can be proud of.