The European Le Mans Series began its 2024 season on the weekend and there were a number of Aussies entered in the 4 Hours of Barcelona.
 
Taking place at the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Australians James Allen and Andres Latorre Canon were entered in the event, with Allen contesting the LMP2 Drivers Championship, and Latorre Canon the LMP2 Pro-Am Championship.
 
With 43 entries making up the big field, both drivers and their respective teams finished in the outright top 20, with Allen finishing 16th overall and Latorre Canon in 17th.
 
Although Allen and his Duqueine Team teammates Niels Koolen and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer finished higher overall, they just missed out on points, finishing 11th.
 
Latorre Canon on the other hand scored valuable points towards a championship charge, as the New South Welshman and his DKR Engineering teammates, Cem Bölükbaşı and Laurents Hörr, finished sixth in class.
 
Both Aussies helped their teams move up the grid, with Allen’s Oreca 07 car starting 13th in class and Latorre Canon having qualified in P8.
 
Also taking place in Barcelona was the competition’s feeder series, the Michelin Le Mans Cup, which saw Fraser Ross and George Nakas behind the wheel of the GG Classics Ligier JS P320.
 
The pair endured a challenging weekend in the season opener, finishing the event in P18 overall.
 
Despite a slow start to the year, there were plenty of positives to take away from the opening round, including the duo making up eight positions throughout the 58-lap affair after starting 26th.
 
Both competitions will hold their second rounds at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on 4 May.