The 2026 Eurocup-3 season returns to action this weekend as the championship makes its first-ever appearance at the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari for Round 3 of the season. The Italian venue hosts the second Eurocup-3 event alongside the European Le Mans Series in 2026, following the successful season opener at Circuit Paul Ricard, as the championship continues to race on some of Europe’s most prestigious motorsport stages.
After a month-long break since Portimão, the battle for both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships resumes with James Egozi and Palou Motorsport leading the standings after a dominant opening phase of the campaign.
Egozi has emerged as the benchmark of the 2026 season so far. The Palou Motorsport driver arrives in Imola having won three of the first five races, including a commanding double victory at Portimão, where he completed a perfect weekend to further extend his championship lead. Combining exceptional consistency with race-winning pace, the American has quickly established himself as the driver everyone will be aiming to beat this weekend.
Behind Egozi, the battle is becoming increasingly intense. Keanu Al Azhari arrives in Italy as his closest challenger, while René Lammers, Ean Eyckmans and Heitor Dall’Agnol complete a highly competitive top five after two exciting rounds. With three races scheduled across the weekend, Imola represents another major opportunity for the championship order to evolve as the title fight begins to intensify.
The Teams’ Championship is equally competitive. Palou Motorsport heads to Italy at the top of the standings after its dominant performance in Portugal, but MP Motorsport, Hitech GP and Griffin Core by Campos remain firmly in contention as the fight for the teams’ crown continues to gather momentum.
This weekend also represents an important milestone for Eurocup-3, with the championship making its debut at one of motorsport’s most iconic circuits. Nestled in the heart of Italy’s famous Motor Valley, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari is renowned for its rich history, passionate atmosphere and technical complexity.
Measuring 4.909 kilometres and featuring 19 corners, Imola is one of the few anti-clockwise circuits on the international calendar. Its narrow layout, dramatic elevation changes and unforgiving kerbs demand absolute precision from the drivers, rewarding commitment while punishing even the slightest mistake.
The circuit combines some of the most demanding corners in European motorsport. The opening Tamburello chicane immediately tests driver confidence before the heavy braking zone at Tosa, one of the best overtaking opportunities on the lap. From there, competitors must commit through the fast Piratella, negotiate the spectacular downhill section of Acque Minerali, attack the aggressive kerbs at Variante Alta, and maximise traction through the double-apex Rivazza before returning onto the main straight. The constant changes in elevation, together with the circuit’s narrow profile and limited run-off areas, leave little room for error, making qualifying performance and race execution more important than ever.
The event also marks Eurocup-3’s second appearance alongside the European Le Mans Series this season. Following a successful collaboration at Paul Ricard in May, the championship once again shares the stage with one of Europe’s premier endurance racing series, providing drivers and teams with a unique international platform in front of thousands of passionate motorsport fans.
Track action begins on Friday with Official Previous Test 1 (09:00-09:40) and Official Previous Test 2 (12:35-13:15), before Qualifying Session 1 (15:40-16:00) and Qualifying Session 2 (16:10-16:30) set the grids for the weekend. Race 1 gets underway on Saturday at 10:00, followed by the Sprint Race at 16:50, while the event concludes on Sunday with Race 2 at 08:45, ahead of the European Le Mans Series’ four-hour feature race later in the day.
