CLICK HERE to download the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup Technical and Sporting Regulations.

2026 NEW FORMAT

The annual trip to Le Mans, Road To Le Mans in June will now, for the first time, feature a single three-hour race on the full 13.6km Circuit de La Sarthe on Friday 12th June instead of the two 1-hour races run at previous events in support of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

COMPETITORS

1. 45 are allowed to race during the 2026 season of the Michelin Le Mans Cup.
2. Three categories are running on track: LMP3, LMP3 Pro/Am, and GT3 (more information about the category here).
3. Line-ups are composed of two drivers per car, including one FIA-ranked Bronze driver for the LMP3 Pro/Am and the GT3 categories. Platinum drivers can’t participate in the competition.

REGULATIONS

1. Each car must match its current regulations according to the ACO/FIA.
2. Cars are inspected before each race by official scrutineers.[MT1]
3. Each car runs with a renewable biofuel (Excellium Racing 100) from TotalEnergies.

TYRES

1. LMP3, LMP3 Pro-Am and GT3 competitors run with Michelin tyres, the official title partner of the series.
2. LMP3, LMP3 Pro-Am and GT3 competitors have one dry and one wet tyre specifications.
3. Any equipment for warming the tyres or keeping them to temperature is forbidden.

EVENT FORMAT

Each race weekend is composed of:

1. Free Practice: two Free Practice sessions of 60 minutes.
2. Bronze Test: one session of 30 minutes exclusively for FIA-ranked Bronze drivers.
3. Qualifying: one qualifying session of 15 minutes per category, which defines the grid order. Only Bronze drivers can qualify the car for the LMP3 Pro/Am and the GT3 category.
4. Race – which lasts 2 hours except for Road To Le Mans (2x 1 hour) and Silverstone (1 hour and 50 minutes).

RACES

1. Each driver must drive at least 45 minutes during the race.
2. Competitors must respect a Pit Stop Reference Time. Additional time may be added to the pitstop for performance equality between Bronze drivers.
3. The winners are the cars that covered the greatest distance in their category.

RACE NEUTRALISATION

If the race must be neutralized or stopped for safety reasons, multiple procedures can be decided by the Race Director:

1. FULL COURSE YELLOW

Intended for short neutralizations mainly for interventions lasting equal to or less than one lap.

Cars must slow down to 80kph.

The pit lane entry is closed when a Full Course Yellow (FCY) is announced.

Overtaking is forbidden.

1. SAFETY CAR

Intended for long neutralizations.

All cars must follow the Safety Car and adapt their speed.

The pit lane entry is closed for three laps when a Safety Car (SC) is announced.

Overtaking is permitted under defined circumstances.

1. RED FLAG

All the cars must head back to the pitlane or stop on track regarding the conditions.

PODIUMS

Each category has its own podium for the three first competitors.

STANDINGS

1. Cars and drivers have their own classification in each category.
2. Points are awarded to the following scale:

1 – 25 points

2 – 18 points

3 – 15 points

4 – 12 points

5 – 10 points

6 – 8 points

7 – 6 points

8 – 4 points

9 – 2 points

10 – 1 point

1. One point is awarded for the pole position in each category.