European Le Mans Series: Key terminology
All the lingo you should know ahead of this year’s European Le Mans Series
Published
20 MAR 2025
Est Reading Time
2 min
With the start of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) just a couple of weeks away, Jamie’s newest challenge is rapidly drawing into view.
And there will be plenty for the Bath native to get used to, as she takes part in one of the continent’s premier endurance racing championships for the first time.
Newcomers to the series may also have some learning to do — and understanding the terminology is essential for any aspiring ELMS fan.
That’s why we’ve laid out a selection of the most important terms to know about for the year ahead…
General terms
Endurance Racing – A type of motorsport that focuses on long-distance races, often lasting several hours, requiring multiple drivers per car and strategic pit stops.
Multi-Class Racing – ELMS features multiple categories of cars racing simultaneously, with each class having its own competition while sharing the same track.
BoP (Balance of Performance) – A system used to equalise performance across different car models, to maintain fair competition by adjusting weight, fuel capacity or engine power.
Car classes
LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) – The top-tier class in ELMS, featuring closed-cockpit prototype race cars built by designated manufacturers.
LMP3 (Le Mans Prototype 3) – A more cost-effective prototype category, serving as a stepping stone to LMP2.
LMGT3 (Le Mans Grand Touring 3) – The GT category in ELMS, featuring production-based race cars built to FIA GT3 regulations, competing alongside prototypes.
Race-specific terms
Stint – The period a driver spends behind the wheel before swapping with a teammate, often dictated by fuel load, tire wear and regulations.
Pit Stop – A mandatory stop where teams change tyres, refuel and perform driver changes.
Full Course Yellow (FCY) – A caution period where all cars must reduce speed to a controlled limit without overtaking, allowing for debris removal or incident recovery.
Safety Car – A vehicle deployed onto the track to control race pace in response to major incidents, bunching the field together until conditions are safe for racing to resume.
Drive-Through Penalty – A penalty requiring a driver to pass through the pit lane without stopping, typically for track limit violations or infractions.
Stop-and-Go Penalty – A penalty where a car must stop in the pit lane for a specified time before rejoining the race.
Championship & regulations
FIA Driver Categorisation – Drivers are classified into Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze rankings, based on experience and success, influencing team composition.
Tyre Allocation – The regulated number of tyres teams can use per event, requiring careful management across practice, qualifying and the race.
Success Handicap – A performance-balancing measure applied to leading teams, to ensure competitive racing throughout the season.
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