Breaking Down Ferrari’s ELMS 2026 Grid Presence

For those who don’t know, the European Le Mans Series is the ultimate proving ground for a wide-range of talented drivers, competing in a stacked multi-class field consisting of LMP2, LMP3, and LMGT3 teams. My focus is on the LMGT3 field, with nearly half of the field running the ever-reliable Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo. In total, there are four teams driving a Ferrari LMGT3 this season (five if you include Richard Mille AF CORSE as a separate team to AF CORSE).

This can be confusing to a motorsport fan coming from Formula One, as the team structure is much simpler there. For example, in just one ELMS LMGT3 team, you’ll see three different drivers, with varying expected skill levels depending on the driver’s FIA Licence. Although the spotlight is often on the Gold/Platinum drivers, the Bronze licensed competitors are just as important. In fact, you could argue that having the strongest Bronze driver is the biggest advantage a team can have, with the official ELMS 2026 rules stating that only a Bronze driver is allowed to take part in Qualifying within the LMGT3 class. However, each driver gets a chance to race, with a mandatory minimum of 40 minutes per driver.

These races can often come down to quick strategy calls, safety cars, and the occasional outstanding drive from a team's Gold or Platinum driver. But that’s enough about the basic rules and regulations, let’s get stuck into the 2026 ELMS Ferrari LMGT3 breakdown!

AF CORSE (#50 & #51)

AF CORSE is the gold-standard of partnership teams in endurance racing. Ferrari has partnered with the Italian team since 2006. During that time, the team has achieved tremendous success in various series at the highest level. Most notably, AF CORSE also partnered with Ferrari in the World Endurance Championship, which is the biggest stage in motorsport for endurance racing.

This season in the European Le Mans Series, AF CORSE will run the #51 Ferrari 296 LMGT3 Evo and Richard Mille AF CORSE will pilot the #50 Ferrari. All eyes will be on the #50, with Richard Mille AF CORSE finishing second in the team championship in 2025, missing out on the championship by nine points. Poor results in Barcelona, Imola, and Portimao cost them dearly, so they’ll need to improve their consistency this season if Richard Mille AF CORSE wants to do one better and win the championship in 2026.

However, the expectations won’t be as high for the #51 AF CORSE car. Last season did not go well for them, finishing down in ninth overall in the team standings. They showed good consistency, with only a few hiccups coming at the tail-end of the season. But with a nearly 40-point gap to the current ELMS champions TF Sport, they’ll really need to up their game this season to stand a chance of matching the Richard Mille squad.

#51 AF CORSE ELMS Driver Lineup: Charles-Henri SAMANI (Bronze), TBC, TBC

#50 RICHARD MILLE AF CORSE ELMS Driver Lineup: Custodio TOLEDO (Bronze), TBC, TBC

SPIRIT OF RACE (#55)

Amato Ferrari, who also founded AF CORSE, established SPIRIT OF RACE, but the team registers under a different brand and the European Le Mans Series officially recognizes it as a Swiss team instead of Italian. However, the two teams are very closely linked and managed by the same people. However, that doesn’t mean SPIRIT OF RACE are a bunch of pushovers. They finished well ahead of AF CORSE in the overall team standings last season and trailed Richard Mille AF CORSE by only sixteen points in 2025.

SPIRIT OF RACE are a highly successful team at Le Mans, with the Swiss squad scoring two podiums in the 24-hour race since 2017, with both results coming during the LM GTE era in the AM class. But nonetheless, they are a competitive team with talented drivers and ambition, making them always one to watch during the ELMS season.

#55 SPIRIT OF RACE ELMS Driver Lineup: Duncan CAMERON (Bronze), TBC, TBC

KESSEL RACING (#57 & #74)

Talking of teams with talent and ambition, KESSEL RACING has both in abundance. Fresh off of an extremely successful Asian Le Mans Series in early 2026, the #74 KESSEL RACING crew will be eager to get going in the European Le Mans Series. KESSEL RACING won the 2026 ALMS GT3 championship, with race wins in Sepang and Dubai. The Swiss team ran two cars during the 2026 Asian Le Mans Series, but their #15 failed to make an impression, scoring just one point. However, the #74 KESSEL RACING crew beat not one, not two, but three AF CORSE teams in the ALMS - so it’ll be interesting to see this competitive rivalry reignite in Europe.

#57 KESSEL RACING ELMS Driver Lineup: Takeshi KIMURA (Bronze), TBC, Daniel SERRA (Platinum)

#74 KESSEL RACING ELMS Driver Lineup: Andrew GILBERT (Bronze), Fran RUEDA (Silver), Romain LEROUX

GR RACING (#86)

Now, if you're a Ferrari fan from Great Britain and feeling patriotic, GR RACING is the team for you! As the only British Ferrari team on the 2026 European Le Mans Series grid, GR RACING is somewhat of an underdog out there. They weren't always challenging the leaders last season, but had significant results in Le Castelle and Silverstone. Their home Grand Prix was certainly special, getting second place behind fellow Ferrari boys in the #50 Richard Mille AF CORSE in 2025, and I’m sure even the most die-hard AF CORSE fan will be hoping GR RACING can go one better this season. Team principle and GT driver Michael Wainwright once again drives for GR RACING in 2026, with the FIA Bronze driver yet to win in the European Le Mans Series while driving a Ferrari - with his only victory coming back in 2015 at Silverstone behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 RSR.

#86 GR RACING ELMS Driver Lineup: Michael WAINWRIGHT (Bronze), TBC, TBC

Drop a comment below if you're looking forward to the ELMS season. And if you're a WEC fan, check out this article covering the rise of the Ferrari 499P!