The FIA World Endurance Championship weekend at Imola offered more than just Hypercars and LMGT3 machinery. Making its debut as a new support series, Legends of Le Mans delivered a spectacular throwback to the prototype and GTE era of the 2000s and 2010s. For the more than 92,000 spectators in attendance, it was a rare chance to hear a screaming V12 again, to feel the rumble of diesel torque, and to watch some of the most iconic endurance racers of the past two decades return to full speed.

Seventeen of the twenty entered cars took to the track, with instant fan favourites including Christian Albrecht’s Lola‑Aston Martin DBR1‑2, the quartet of Peugeot 908s and François Perrodo’s Porsche RS Spyder.

Race 1: Albrecht untouchable in the V12 Lola

Saturday afternoon’s opening race quickly turned into a showcase for Christian Albrecht. Starting from pole in the ex‑Verstappen/Davidson/Turner Lola‑Aston Martin DBR1‑2, he immediately broke free from the chasing Peugeots and never looked back. Over the course of the 40‑minute race he led all 25 laps, eventually crossing the line with a margin of more than 26 seconds.

Behind him, Shaun Lynn secured second place in the BBM Sport‑run Peugeot 908 HDI FAP, while François Perrodo brought the Porsche RS Spyder home in third overall, enough to secure the LMP2 victory. Evgeny Kireev followed as the second‑best LMP2 finisher in his ex‑G‑Drive Oreca 05, with Pierre Ehret completing the class podium in the Ligier JS P2.

GTE: A modern Aston versus the first‑ever GTE car

The GTE class featured only two cars, but the contrast between them told the story of an entire era.

Franz Wunderlich claimed victory in the Aston Martin Vantage AMR, the most modern car in the field and one that raced in the FIA WEC as recently as 2023. Its pace, stability and downforce made it the clear favourite.

Behind him, Wolfgang Henseler brought the Lotus Evora GTE to second place. The Evora holds a special place in endurance racing history as the first car ever homologated under the GTE regulations back in 2011. Smaller, lighter and far less powerful than the Aston, it nevertheless drew plenty of attention for its rarity and charm.

Race 2: Another early‑morning charge from Albrecht

Sunday’s race began at 08:40, with the front row locked out by Peugeots: Shaun Lynn on pole and Stuart Wiltshire alongside him. But once again, it was Christian Albrecht who stole the show. Starting from third, he worked his way past both Peugeots and took the lead after nine laps, securing his second win of the weekend.

Lynn repeated his runner‑up finish, while Wiltshire completed the overall top three. Michel Frey looked set for a strong result in his Judd V10‑powered Lola, but a lost wheel forced him into retirement.

In LMP2, François Perrodo again proved unbeatable, taking a second class win ahead of Evgeny Kireev, who repeated his Saturday result. Andy Cummings finished third in the Morgan LMP2, the same chassis in which Ho‑Pin Tung made his Le Mans debut.

The GTE class mirrored Saturday’s outcome, with Wunderlich once more taking a comfortable win in the Aston Martin, followed by Henseler in the Lotus.

Next stop: Spa‑Francorchamps

The Legends of Le Mans calendar runs in parallel with the first 2 FIA WEC events, meaning the next outing comes quickly. The series heads to Spa‑Francorchamps for another double‑header, with two free practice sessions and the first qualifying session on Thursday 7 May, followed by a second qualifying session and the opening race on Friday afternoon. The weekend concludes with the second race on Saturday morning.

With its mix of modern classics and true endurance icons, Legends of Le Mans has already proven to be a standout addition to the WEC support programme, and Spa promises even more.

Photos by Richard Kortland and Nicolas Nyeste