EN
Read the post DKR Engineering clinches the LMP3 title in ELMS, and Rinaldi finishes 3rd in Michelin Le Mans Cup, capping off a fantastic season for all teams at Portimao.
Share:
🏁 DUQUEINE #30 Kicks Off Their ELMS Season in Style in Barcelona
DUQUEINE Team kicked off the 2023 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) season with an exceptional weekend at the Barcelona Circuit, where the DUQUEINE #30 made a strong debut. With impressive performances from drivers Neel Jani, René Binder, and Nicolas Pino, the team showcased their potential from the very first race.
🏎️ A Promising Prologue: Impressive Performances
From the first collective tests, the DUQUEINE #30 demonstrated its strong pace, with a fast car and perfectly synchronized team. The two-day prologue served as a real preparation test, showcasing the team’s potential for the upcoming season. From the free practices, the team made it clear that they would be contenders for the front positions.
🏆 Qualifying: Provisional Pole and a 3rd-Place Grid Spot
In the qualifying session, Swiss driver Neel Jani delivered an exceptional lap time, securing the DUQUEINE #30 a provisional pole. It was a great achievement, showing that the team had the pace to compete at the highest level. Thanks to an excellent team strategy, Neel Jani finished the qualifying session in 3rd place on the starting grid, setting the team up well for the race.
🚦 The Race Start: René Binder in Action
On race day, René Binder took the wheel of the DUQUEINE #30 for the start. Right from the beginning, René avoided the typical start-line pitfalls and avoided any incidents. However, due to the heavy traffic at the start, he dropped to 5th position. But Binder’s experience and control soon paid off as he regained his position and handed the car over to Nicolas Pino in 2nd place.
⚡ An Impressive First Stint from Nicolas Pino
The young Chilean driver Nicolas Pino, just 18 years old, delivered an impressive first stint. He handled the pressure with remarkable skill, leading the race for much of his stint. His pace was outstanding, allowing the team to maintain a top position. It was a strategic and technical stint that kept the DUQUEINE #30 in contention for the win.
🔥 The Final Battle and Damage to the DUQUEINE #30
In the final part of the race, Neel Jani took over the wheel of the DUQUEINE #30. The battle was intense, but unfortunately, the car suffered damage from debris on the track, which impacted its performance. Despite this, Jani maintained a strong pace, holding his position. The DUQUEINE #30 crossed the finish line in 2nd place overall, delivering a promising result for the season.
🥇 A Promising Result for the Season Ahead
The DUQUEINE Team concluded the weekend with a 1st place in the LMP2 category and a 2nd place overall in the race. This strong start to the season is a very positive sign for what’s to come, especially for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the team will be a serious contender. The work of the entire team was exemplary, and they are ready to continue building on this momentum and represent their colors proudly throughout the season.
René BINDER :
Mission accomplished!
We knew that our package was much more competitive this year, but starting our 2023 season with a dominant victory in the LMP2 Pro Class is truly something special.
We have a very professional group of young talents at DUQUEINE, and I also want to take this opportunity to thank our team director, Gilles Duqueine, who has put so much energy and investment into this program. It is an honor to secure the first LMP2 victory for his team, and I hope it won’t be the last of the season.
Neel JANI :
What an excellent start to the season with a class victory and a second place overall!
We were clearly the underdogs, but we proved from the very first race that the DUQUEINE team isn’t afraid to take on challenges this year! The race wasn’t easy for us, as we suffered severe damage to the floor and overheating brakes from mid-race onwards, making it difficult to reach the finish line.
I’m really happy for the whole team, who worked hard throughout the winter. They truly deserved this result, and I’m sure that the taste of victory will bring even more motivation to take on the giants of the FIA WEC at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Nicolas PINO :
It was a great way to start the season, proving that all the hard work we’ve put in over the past few months has paid off.
The whole team did an excellent job throughout the weekend, managing to run a clean race and push at the right moments. Now, it’s time to regroup and keep working hard to prepare for the big event—the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Other posts
Read the post 
Read the post After a first victory at Magny-Cours, DB Autosport repeated the feat at Estoril, winning the final round of the Ultimate Cup Series. Despite challenging qualifications, the team fought hard to claim a well-earned victory. Let’s dive into this thrilling race and a season marked by multiple podiums.
Read the post The 24H of Le Mans, a legendary race where DUQUEINE Team and its Oreca #30 faced a major technical challenge. Despite a setback, the team showcased unwavering determination and solid performance, crossing the finish line successfully. Let’s dive into this unforgettable race!
Read the post Duqueine Team kicked off its season this weekend with the opening round of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) in Barcelona, Spain. After a shaky start, the #30 LMP2 quickly established itself in the PRO/AM category. Following a superb pole position, the trio of Pin / Verschoor / Roda secured a third-place finish. A look back at a highly positive opening weekend.
Read the post The second round of ELMS and the third round of Michelin Le Mans Cup at Paul Ricard saw D08 cars shine with a pole position and podium finish. WTM, DKR, and Nielsen Racing impressed, consolidating their position in the championship.
Read the post DUQUEINE Team clinched their first podium of the season with a strong 2nd-place finish at the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. A remarkable recovery, strategic tire management, and precise pit stops were key to their success.
Read the post The DUQUEINE D08 continues to shine on global circuits! At Zandvoort and Watkins, it dominated the Prototype German Cup and IMSA WeatherTech, securing podiums and confirming its place at the top of the championship.
Read the post July 6, 2026 – The European Le Mans Series season resumed this weekend at Imola for round three of the championship. Despite claiming another pole position, the #30 car driven by Doriane Pin, Richard Verschoor and Giorgio Roda endured an eventful race, ultimately crossing the line in 7th place.
Read the post During the third round of ELMS at Monza, DUQUEINE Team displayed a strong pace. With an impressive qualifying and a great start, the Oreca #30 was battling in the Top 10. Unfortunately, an early collision ended their race. A weekend full of lessons before the next round in Barcelona!
Read the post During the 4th round of the 2022 ELMS in Barcelona, DUQUEINE Team made a spectacular comeback after a challenging qualifying session. Starting from the back, Memo Rojas and Anders Fjordbach pushed car #30 up to 6th place. Check out this impressive performance!
Read the post DUQUEINE Team impressed at Monza, securing P5 in the LMP2 class despite setbacks. A strong start, solid strategy, and teamwork kept them in the fight. With this result, they now rank 5th in the ELMS championship. Excitement builds as the team prepares for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans!
Read the post Victory at Silverstone for DUQUEINE! The DUQUEINE D09 #85 from R-ace GP, driven by Hugo Schwarze and Hadrien David, wins in dominant style and secures the 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup title ahead of the season finale — a triumph highlighting DUQUEINE’s performance and engineering mastery.
Read the post A spectacular season finale for Duqueine Automotive! Our Duqueine D08 LMP3 achieved a double victory at the Red Bull Ring, clinching major Junior titles in the 2025 Prototype Cup Germany. A clear demonstration of performance, reliability, and racing excellence.
Read the post DUQUEINE Automotive shines on two fronts! With a podium finish in ELMS and impressive performances in the IMSA Prototype Challenge, the D08 marked the weekend of August 28, 2022. Check out the key moments from the races and the stellar results from the DKR Engineering, JDC, and AWA teams.
Read the post DB AutoSport clinches another podium at the iconic Paul Ricard circuit! A strategic race and strong pace propelled the team to P3, after holding P2 for a long stretch. This marks their second consecutive podium, confirming their growing competitiveness in the Ultimate Cup Series.
Read the post The centennial edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans delivered an unforgettable spectacle, and DUQUEINE Team rose to the challenge! Starting 20th on the grid, the LMP2 #30 overcame every obstacle to secure 3rd place on the podium after a fierce battle against top contenders. Relive this historic performance!
Read the post Road To Le Mans delivered thrilling races with the DUQUEINE D08 in action. After an eventful first race, the cars demonstrated their speed and reliability. A look back at a weekend full of emotions and incidents!
Read the post DUQUEINE LMP3 shines at the European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup with pole positions, a track record, and a victorious weekend. WTM clinches its first podium of the season while DKR Engineering dominates ELMS.
Read the post In 2025, the Duqueine D08 ruled IMSA with Gebhardt Motorsport. Catalano clinched the LMP3 title ahead of Tunjo, while the Duqueine D09 triumphed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup.
Read the post The 3rd round of ELMS and the 2nd of the Michelin Le Mans Cup marked history for DUQUEINE. At Castellet, the D08 achieved a historic hat trick: pole position, fastest lap, and victory. Find out how the competing teams performed during this thrilling endurance racing weekend!
Read the post DB Autosport secures its first win of the season at Magny-Cours with an incredible performance from Jordan Perroy, Nicolas Melin, and Stéphane Panepinto. This victory reignites the team’s title fight ahead of Estoril.
Read the post Duqueine Team kicks off the 2025 ELMS season with flair in Barcelona: a pole by Reshad De Gerus, consistent pace from the new lineup, and encouraging signs for the future—despite a premature end to the race.
Read the post Two weeks after the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, it’s time to reflect. Although Duqueine Team’s No. 30 LMP2 retired with just three hours to go following a brake failure, the French squad left the Sarthe with far more than a result. After leading the race for almost 20 hours and delivering a level of performance few expected from a team restructured just four months ago, Duqueine Team has laid the foundations for an exceptionally promising future.