Opened in 1922, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, due to its long straights. Across its 5.793 km layout, the two Lesmo corners, the Ascari chicane and the Parabolica determine the rhythm of a lap where heavy braking into the chicanes – and acceleration out of them – are as important as top speed. In endurance racing, the speed differences between Hypercars and LMGT3s add an extra challenge, particularly approaching the chicanes, where drivers must navigate traffic while carefully judging their braking.
Free practice – Three wet sessions
The final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship got underway on Friday on a wet track and in a temperature of 10°C. In first practice, Clemens Schmid set the eighth-fastest time in the LMGT3 class at the wheel of the #87 Lexus RC F LMGT3 (1’58’’445). In the #78 car, Esteban Masson set the crew’s best time of 2’00’’594, placing them 17th.
Lap times improved in the afternoon session as the track dried out in the closing minutes. José María López put the #87 in fifth with a time of 1’51’’367, just ahead of Esteban Masson, who was sixth with 1’51’’435. The two Lexus cars, separated by just 0.068 secs, completed a total of 143 laps by the end of the first day.
On Saturday morning, the crews returned to a wet track for final practice. The #87 was sixth with a time of 1’56’’727 and the #78 was 11th in 1’57’’594.
Qualifying and Hyperpole – Pole for Hadrien David and the #78 Lexus
The track was still damp, but drying, for LMGT3 qualifying and both Lexus cars negotiated the changing conditions with confidence to secure their place in the Hyperpole top 10 shoot-out. The #87, driven by Petru Umbrărescu, set the sixth-fastest time (1’50’’147), while the #78, driven by Tom Van Rompuy, progressed in eighth (1’50’’356).
The track dried out even further by the time the green flags waved for Hyperpole. On his sixth and final flying lap, Hadrien David set the fastest time of 1’47’’523 in the #78, beating the #33 Corvette by just 0.014 secs. The Frenchman therefore secured his second pole of the season, to add to his achievement at Spa-Francorchamps, to the delight of his team-mates, Tom Van Rompuy and Esteban Masson.
At the wheel of the #87, Clemens Schmid clocked his fastest lap in 1’47’’733, just 0.210 secs off pole. He secured fifth place on the LMGT3 grid for the Lexus he shares with Petru Umbrărescu and José María López.
An eventful race
The race got underway at 11am under overcast skies but on a dry track. Tom Van Rompuy started from pole and held the lead in the #78, while Petru Umbrărescu moved the #87 up from fifth to third place inside the first five laps. The pace was fast and the #87 was hot on the heels of the #77 Ford, which had taken the lead after nine minutes of racing. Petru Umbrărescu took the lead during the first pit stops and resisted pressure from the Ford. The race was punctuated by safety car periods, which closed the gaps and made the restarts increasingly treacherous. At the two-hour mark, the #87 Lexus was still leading the way, and even set the fastest lap of the race. In the #78, Tom Van Rompuy was seventh at the end of the first hour, before dropping back due to a drive-through penalty.
After a double stint, Petru Umbrărescu handed over the wheel to Clemens Schmid (#87), while Hadrien David replaced Tom Van Rompuy (#78).
Another interruption shuffled the pack, and when the race resumed with three hours and 33 minutes remaining, the gaps had narrowed. Clemens Schmid restarted in the lead under pressure from the #27 Aston Martin, while Hadrien David fought his way up from 11th to ninth. Taking advantage of another restart following a brief Full Course Yellow, the #88 Ford took the lead from the #87. At the same time, a second drive-through penalty pushed the #78 back to 14th.
But with just over three hours to go, the #87 Lexus came to a sudden halt at the side of the track. The rear window of the Ford in front had just shattered, sending debris onto the track. Unfortunately, a piece lodged itself in the Lexus’ radiator and that marked the end of the race for Petru Umbrărescu, Clemens Schmid and José María López. Following excellent performances during this final weekend of the season, the cruel end brought crushing disappointment.
Hadrien David resumed his charge up the field in the #78. At half-distance he was 12th but he soon moved the Lexus into the top 10, within the points, with two hours to go. Esteban Masson took on the final double stint with a single objective: to challenge for positions and points. Thanks to his fighting spirit and a superb display of driving during the final two hours, the Frenchman crossed the finish line in the top five.
Akkodis ASP Team finishes the 2026 season with two LMGT3 pole positions, thanks to the combined efforts of the Bronze and Silver drivers, at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. The 24 Hours of Le Mans provided the highlight. Tom Van Rompuy, Hadrien David and Jack Hawksworth drove the #78 car to a fine second place and Lexus’ first appearance on the LMGT3 podium. A superb team performance was completed by the #87 car of Petru Umbrărescu, Clemens Schmid and José María López, which finished in a magnificent fourth place.
The professionalism and dedication of the team, the drivers and the partners made for a season rich in performances – though not always rewarded by results – and in excitement; we would like to thank them all.
