The team is pleased to announce the arrival of Valerio Rinicella as the third driver for car #28 at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans. He joins Paul Lafargue and Job Van Uitert to form an ambitious and complementary trio for the Le Mans classic.
Already competing in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) in the #18 car, where he has quickly distinguished himself through his consistency, maturity on the track, and ability to adapt in a particularly competitive championship, the Italian driver is taking a new step forward by joining Paul Lafargue and Job Van Uitert, who will be defending the colors of the #28 car at the Le Mans event.
This trio combines experience and youth: Paul Lafargue, a recognized figure in endurance racing, brings his in-depth knowledge of the event, while Job Van Uitert continues to establish himself as a reliable asset on the international scene. Rinicella’s arrival completes this balance with freshness, speed, and determination.
Patrice Lafargue, President of IDEC SPORT
“We are very pleased to welcome Valerio to the #28 crew for Le Mans. He has shown great promise since the start of the season in the ELMS with us. His integration is a natural fit and consistent with our strategy for developing young talent. We now have a solid, balanced crew ready to take on the challenge.”
Nicolas Minassian, Team Principal
“Valerio has impressed us with his maturity, speed, and dedication. He understands how the team operates, which is a real advantage when preparing for a race like Le Mans. With Paul and Job, we have a cohesive crew capable of aiming for a top-level performance.”
Paul Lafargue
“We are very pleased to announce that Valerio Rinicella is joining our crew for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s a real pleasure to be able to count on him. This will be his first time competing, and I’m convinced he’s the right person to take on this challenge. He’s already part of the team this season; he knows the car, observes a lot, and fits in perfectly. I’m very proud to have him with us. Besides, I like to take a chance on young drivers. We’ve done it before, and Valerio fits into that dynamic. He’s a rookie, but a rookie with a lot of potential. He has the speed, an excellent attitude, and a real desire to improve. That’s exactly what we’re looking for. We’re arriving at Le Mans with a solid foundation. We’ve been performing well for some time now; we have a competitive car and a strong team. The goal will be to turn all of that into results.”
Job Van Uitert
“I’ve been part of the team for several years now, and it’s always motivating to take on a new challenge with a new crew. With Valerio, the challenge won’t be to bring him up to speed—he’s already very fast—but rather to help him learn all the specifics of endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Le Mans is much more than a typical race. It’s a very long, very intense weekend where you have to know how to manage your energy, stay focused, and prepare well—both physically and mentally. This will be his first experience in a 24-hour race, so there will be a lot to take in, but he has all the qualities needed to succeed. “
Valerio Rinicella
“I’m really very happy to be participating in this race. It’s a childhood dream coming true. When I was younger, I used to watch endurance races, GTs, and prototypes, and I dreamed of competing at Le Mans one day.” The 24 Hours of Le Mans is both a very long and very demanding race. There’s the night, changing conditions, and a unique intensity on the track. The start of the race will undoubtedly be impressive, with lots of cars, especially the Hypercars. In ELMS, we’re often the fastest in LMP2, whereas here, we’ll also have to keep an eye on our rearview mirrors and manage traffic differently. That requires even more concentration and anticipation. For a first-time entry, there’s obviously a lot of excitement, but also a bit of pressure. It’s a race with very experienced drivers, so I still have a lot to learn, especially on the long stints. For now, I’m focused on the ELMS season, but as soon as possible, I’ll be talking to my teammates who have a lot of experience. I want to learn as much as possible, whether on the track, in the simulator, or through physical training. A real challenge awaits me. “
With 62 cars entered, including 18 LMP2s, the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans promises intense competition. The team is approaching this new edition—the 10th—with great humility, determination, ambition, and a clear goal: to perform at the highest level by adding another achievement to its record, which already includes a European championship title in 2019, a podium finish at Le Mans in 2024 (3rd), and two LMP2 pole positions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2018 and 2023).
24 Hours of Le Mans Schedule
- Sunday, June 7: Official Practice
- Wednesday, June 10: Free Practice 1 and Hyperpole Qualifying
- Thursday, June 11: Hyperpole and Free Practice 2
- Saturday, June 13: Start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Sunday, June 14: Finish of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
While waiting to meet up from June 11 to 14 in Le Mans, IDEC SPORT continues its European ELMS season at Le Castellet from May 2 to 4, which can be followed live on the Championship’s official channel.
