ELMS Keeps Six-Race 2027 Lineup and Moves Season Start to March

Organisers say the earlier timetable and a Paul Ricard layout change are intended to give teams a stable platform and reduce calendar clashes with other endurance series.

Overview

The European Le Mans Series published its 2027 calendar on Friday, confirming six four-hour races at Barcelona, Paul Ricard, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone and Portimão.
The season now opens with a two-day Prologue at Barcelona on March 8–9 followed by the 4 Hours of Barcelona on March 14, moving the campaign about four weeks earlier than 2026.
For the Paul Ricard round organisers will remove the Mistral Straight chicane and restore the full 1.8 km straight, a change that will alter car setup and top-speed strategy for teams.
ELMS kept the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone in September and will not serve as a support event for the FIA World Endurance Championship’s separate April return to Silverstone.
Promoter LMEM and the ACO framed the calendar as a ‘stable platform’ aimed at steady growth, offering partners predictable dates around the Le Mans 24 Hours and helping teams plan logistics and development.