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Inter Europol Competition
Inter Europol Competition
from Wikipedia

Inter Europol Competition is a Polish auto racing team that competes in endurance racing. The team is contesting the 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and Le Mans Cup in 2026.[1][2][3][4][5] As a reference to the focus of its owner and sponsor, the bakery goods producer Inter Europol SA, the team is often referred to as Turbo Piekarze (Turbo Bakers).[6][7][8][9][10][11]

Key Information

History

[edit]

2010-2015: Pre-endurance efforts

[edit]
Wojciech Śmiechowski, team owner, with the former Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki in Inter Europol's factory in Małopole

The team was founded in 2010 and grew out of a cooperation between Maurycy Kochański's Kochanski Motorsport and Michael Keese Motorsport. Their joint effort competed first in Formula Ford and Formula Three, then in 2009 in the Italian Formula Renault Championship and in 2010 in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup. At the end of the 2010 season, Kochański ran into financial problems. His share in the team was taken over by Wojciech Śmiechowski, father of its driver Jakub Śmiechowski and owner of the Inter Europol SA bakery. The new team was named Inter Europol Competition after its new owner-sponsor.[12][13]

Inter Europol Competition started as a single-seater team. Inter Europol's drivers competed in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup in the 2010–2016 seasons, with team's drivers' best overall result being 12th by Jakub Śmiechowski in the 2011 season.[14] 2014 marked the beginning of 6-years long team's effort in BOSS GP, which championship was claimed by Jakub Śmiechowski in that year. Śmiechowski also finished as the runner-up in the 2015 season.[15][16]

Jakub Śmiechowski and Jens Petersen at the autograph session at the 2016 4 Hours of Estoril

2016-2018: Beginnings in endurance racing

[edit]

2016 marked an important milestone for Inter Europol Competition as the team made its full European Le Mans Series and 2016 V de V Endurance Series entries, taking first steps in the endurance racing. The maiden LMP3 campaign in the ELMS with Jakub Śmiechowski and Jens Petersen driving the Ligier JS P3 brought the team 10th place overall. The effort in the V de V was more successful, as Śmiechowski paired with Martin Hippe claimed the championship of the series.[17][18]

Inter Europol Competition's Ligier JS P3 at the 2017 4 Hours of Silverstone

In their second year in the endurance racing Inter Europol Competition continued their effort in the European Le Mans Series, bringing to the 2017 field a single LMP3 car, Ligier JS P3 number 13. Jens Petersen has been replaced by Martin Hippe, who became team's regular ELMS driver in the years to come.[19] After scoring their maiden podium in the 4 Hours of Castellet, the team achieved a fifth-place finish in the general LMP3 standings.[20] The team entered the V de V Endurance Series as well, claiming the championship with a car number 22 with Jakub Śmiechowski and Hendrik Still behind the wheel. The best of the #33 car drivers, Paul Scheuschner, finished eighth.[21]

Martin Hippe and Jakub Śmiechowski in Ligier JS P3 won the 2018 4 Hours of Portimão, earning the title of the Vice Champions of the ELMS LMP3

In 2018, Inter Europol Competition once again entered the LMP3 class of the European Le Mans Series, this time with two Ligier JS P3 cars.[22] 2018 was a breakthrough for a car number 13, as Martin Hippe and Jakub Śmiechowski scored a race win in 4 Hours of Portimão and a third place in 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring – two podiums in total - to finish runners-up in the championship standings. A new entry from the team, car number 14, hosted a total of six drivers in six races, resulting in 15th place in the final LMP3 classification.[23][24] 2018 also marked the final run of Inter Europol Competition in the V de V Endurance series. Paul Scheuschner, driving a car number 33, finished 3rd in the general standings, while the pair of Jakub Śmiechowski and Pontus Fredriksson in a car number 22 claimed 5th overall.[25] In the first years in the endurance racing Inter Europol Competition remained in the BOSS GP series, however, without Jakub Śmiechowski behind the wheel. The best result was Walter Seding’s fourth overall in the 2018 season.[26][27][28]

2019-2020: Le Mans and LMP2 debuts

[edit]
Martin Hippe and Nigel Moore at the top of the podium of the 4 Hours of Barcelona 2019

The new season of 2019 saw Inter Europol Competition branching out into new territory of Asian Le Mans Series with Martin Hippe and Jakub Śmiechowski behind the wheel of a number 13 Ligier JS P3 car. The campaign proved to be successful for the team, which claimed the overall victory and an invitation for the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans.[29]

Inter Europol Competition reached the finish line of the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking the first Polish entry in the history of the race

In 2019 European Le Mans Series, the team stepped up to the LMP2 class after purchasing a Ligier JS P217 in addition to fielding two LMP3 Ligier JS P3 cars for the second consecutive year.[30] The LMP2 campaign didn't bring good results and after frequent lineup changes Inter Europol Competition claimed 17th place in the overall classification. The effort of a car number 13 in the LMP3 class turned out to be much more fruitful with the team claiming the back-to-back 2nd place overall after a penalty in the last race of the season and rejection of the team's appeal.[31][32] Car number 14 finished 12th overall.

In June, Inter Europol Competition made their debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Jakub Śmiechowski, Nigel Moore and James Winslow (who replaced Léo Roussel three weeks before the race as the effect of Roussel's back injury),[33] driving a Ligier JS P217, recorded 45th in the race overall standings and 16th in the LMP2 class standings, after having dealt with a lot of technical issues.[34]

In team's last season in BOSS GP, the only full-season driver Walter Steding took ninth place in the general standings.[35]


In 2020 Inter Europol Competition again started the year with Asian Le Mans Series bid, claiming 4th with car 33 and 5th with car 34 in the LMP2 standings.[36] The team ran also one full season entry in the LMP3 class with car 13, who finished 3rd overall, and two part season entries with cars 14 and 18.

Inter Europol Competition's Oreca 07 at the 2020 Petit Le Mans

Inter Europol Competition contested the shortened European Le Mans Series season as well, with one entry in LMP2 and LMP3 classes. LMP2 #34 car, the only Ligier on the grid, saw a major lineup overhaul with Rene Binder[37] and Matevos Isaakyan[38] joining Jakub Śmiechowski for the ELMS and Le Mans effort. The LMP2 crew finished the season 12th overall, while Hippe, Moore and Dino Lunardi from car number 13 claimed the third consecutive ELMS LMP3 vice champion title for the Inter Europol Competition.[39]

The team appeared on the grid of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race for the second time, struggling with technical[40] and regulatory[41] issues, finishing 17th in class and 45th overall.

Inter Europol Competition wrapped the 2020 season up with two races of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, in which the team used the Oreca 07 prototype for the first time. They finished 3rd in LMP2 class and 9th overall in the Petit Le Mans.[42] and 4th in class and 17th overall in the 12 Hours of Sebring.[43]

2021-2023: Performing in the WEC and winning Le Mans

[edit]

With a single Oreca 07 the team made their debut the World Endurance Championship, moving up there for the 2021 season from European Le Mans Series. Car 34 was driven by Jakub Śmiechowski, Renger van der Zande, Alex Brundle and Louis Delétraz.[44][45][46][47]

In their first season in WEC, the "Turbo Bakers" have consistently achieved results in the middle of the pack, finishing 5th in as many as four out of six races.[48][49] The worst result was 9th at 6 Hours of Bahrain, after plenty of incidents.[50] This allowed Inter Europol Competition to finish their debut season in the World Endurance Championship in 5th place.

Inter Europol Competition organized a promotional event during Silesia Rally 2021, presenting their Ligier JS P320

The team's third participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans was the most successful race to date - the team finished 5th in the LMP2 class and 10th overall. Śmiechowski, Brundle and van der Zande, driving a car number 34 avoided major mistakes and bad luck - with the exceptions of a puncture in Brundle's car, an unfaulted collision with the Racing Team India Eurasia car and problems with the refuelling machine.[51][52][53]

The other part of Inter Europol Competition racing programme for 2021 was LMP3 class of European Le Mans Series, in which the team took part running two Ligier JS P320 machineries.[54] Prototype number 13, as in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, recorded better results than its sister crew, scoring three podiums in total, including one win[55] - thanks to the efforts of German Martin Hippe,[56] who has been driving for the team since the 2016 season, young Belgian Ugo de Wilde[57] and their changing partners. This was enough to finish fourth overall - primarily due to crashes and car's failures at Le Castellet and Spa-Francorchamps.[58][59] Crew number 14 recorded results in the middle of the ELMS stakes, finishing 6th overall - the best result ever for the #14. A total of nine drivers drove a second Ligier.

The team fielded two cars in the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of them being full-season WEC entry


Inter Europol Competition began their 2022 season with a single LMP3 entry in the Asian Le Mans Series, finishing 7th despite showing a race-winning pace - after a sudden and forced change to the driver line-up, technical problems and drivers' mistakes.[60][61][62][63]

For the rest of the 2022 season the team expanded their programme, which included two LMP2 entries in total - one in the World Endurance Championship and the other in the European Le Mans Series, as well as two LMP3 cars in the ELMS.[64][65][66][67][68]

The WEC part of the 2022 season went poorly for the team. In every race, besides the 6 Hours of Monza,[69] Inter Europol Competition was struggling with all kinds of problems - drivers' mistakes,[70] technical problems,[71] and sheer lack of pace,[72] which resulted in scoring 20 points and placing 11th in the general standings.

The story of poor results continued in the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans; IEC cars crossed the finish line in 13th (number 34) and 14th (number 43) place in class. The WEC car struggled with maximum speed, and other lesser issues. Car number 43 (loaned from the DragonSpeed team, as Oreca due to worldwide supply chain issues wasn't able to deliver the purchased car on time) has been swinging in the latter half of the top ten of the ranks up till early morning, when the ignition coil failure forced David Heinemeier Hansson to come to the pits for repairs. The main reasons for the team's poor performance were the sudden departure of team's technical director, the need to restructure the team and significant turnover among the staff.[73][74]

A guest start in the new Prototype Cup Germany series resulted in a 2nd place for the team

ELMS performances were full of ups and downs. The LMP2 car came alive in the second part of the season, which was a sign of things to come in 2023 and subsequent seasons, including scoring team's first ever LMP2 podium, placing 2nd at Spa-Francorchamps after starting from the bottom of the pile,[75] and 4th in the season finale at Portimao, finishing the year in 8th place. Dramatic was the LMP3 season, which started with car's disqualification,[76] taking three wins in a row at Monza, Circuit de Catalunya and Spa-Francorchamps and finally losing the championship an hour before the finish of the 4 Hours of Portimao - as a result of a collision between Nico Pino and Mathias Beche and the resulting suspension damage. The damage, originally resulting in a significant pace drop, soon proved to be terminal and eliminated the car from the race 12 minutes before the end of the season.[77][78] Car No. 14, meanwhile, finished last, 13th overall, mainly as a result of slow runs and numerous mistakes by James Dayson.[79]

The last part of the team's 2022 effort was a guest start in the new Prototype Cup Germany series - with a single LMP3 car, driven by James Winslow, returning to the team, and Damian Ciosek. They have finished 6th and 2nd during the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.[80]


In the 2023 season Inter Europol Competition contested the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and Le Mans Cup with respectively two, one, two, four and three entries.[81][82][83][84][85]

The team recorded their first WEC podium during 2023 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

The season started with a four car effort in Asian Le Mans Series. LMP2 car was very quick throughout the whole season, with pace of Nolan Siegel being one of the most important factors. However, two mechanical failures in last minutes of the first and last races, with Siegel respectively in P3 and P1, stripped the team from the championship. LMP3 crews finished 7th, 12th and 15th (last) in the general standings.[86]

The World Endurance Championship season was finished by Jakub Śmiechowski, Albert Costa and Fabio Scherer as runner-ups with 114 points scored. This was how the team ended their three-year stint in the WEC, following the removal of the LMP2 class from the series (with the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans).[87][88]

Inter Europol Competition on their way to win the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans

The high point of the season and team's highest point to date was victory at the 2023 24 Hours of Le Mans. The team again fielded two cars - a regular car competing in the WEC and a car numbered 32, crewed by Jan Magnussen, Anders Fjordbach and amateur driver Mark Kvamme (the crew started in the Pro-am subclass). The crew of the second car ended its participation in the race during the night after Magnussen's accident.[89]

Spaniard Albert Costa Balboa, signed for 2023 after termination of his contract with Lamborghini, was consistently the fastest driver of the team

Śmiechowski, Scherer and Costa showed pace which second-place finisher Robert Kubica described as "in a league of its own"[90] and avoided mistakes other than Costa's minor exit in a gravel trap in the Mulsanne's corner in the final hours of the race[91] and a safety car infringement, for which the team had to serve a drive-through penalty.[92] Widely recognized was Scherer's drive, who got hit in the leg by a Corvette Racing machinery when exiting the car in the first hour of the race and suffered ligament and heel damage and an incomplete fracture to his mid-left foot with three bones broken. After being cared for by the team's physiotherapists, the Swiss maintained a good pace and spent more than eight hours behind the wheel of the Oreca 07, despite having to change his braking method and limping on one leg when getting in and out of the car. Scherer also had to deal with a radio malfunction at the end of the race.[93][94][95] A big improvement was made by Jakub Śmiechowski, who showed the pace of a quality silver-category driver, and Albert Costa was, as usual, the team's fastest driver.[96]

After the race, the team's rivals, notably the driver of the second-placed car at the finish, Louis Deletraz, accused the team of breaching the technical regulations, citing short refuelling times, low fuel consumption and high acceleration of the car.[97][98] After a procedure that lasted more than a month, the race organisers officially confirmed the results on the basis of a report from the FIA and ACO technical delegates, who 'after deep analysis' found all cars - including the Polish team's Oreca - in compliance with their respective regulations.[99]

The ELMS season was not particularly successful for the IEC. In the LMP2 class, a gearbox failure in the first race proved to be the harbinger of the whole season, during which car #43 scored just one podium in the seven-team field. The drivers showed mostly average pace as well as kept making mistakes.[100] At Aragon they had to withdraw from the race after an unfaulted crash.[101] The team showed from a better side in the LMP3 class, whose season ended in fourth place overall with two second places. The drivers of a Ligier JS P320 were not lucky either – not finishing two races, at Aragon and Algarve, was due to car breakdowns.[102]

The team's debut season in the Le Mans Cup saw all three crews finish in last places in the overall standings. The best and most consistent performances came from the drivers of the number 15 car, Bryson Morris and Chris Short, while Santiago Concepción Serrano and Ben Stone of the number 13 Ligier failed to finish as many as five out of the seven races of the season.

2024-: At the front of LMP2

[edit]
Inter Europol Competition, in a cooperation with the American team PR1/Mathiasen, won the IMSA Sportscar Championship in their debut year

The team's programme for the 2024 season included 24 Hours of Le Mans - with one LMP2 car,[103] European Le Mans Series - with two LMP2s and one LMP3,[104] Le Mans Cup - with two cars in the LMP3 class[105] and the IMSA SportsCar Championship with one entry in the LMP2 class.[106] As a result of the withdrawal of the LMP2 class from the FIA WEC, the team's only start in this series was the race at Le Mans. Inter Europol also entered its cars in the less prestigious series - a Ligier JS P4 in the Ligier European Series[107] and the Ligier JS P320 in the Ultimate Cup.[108]

In the IMSA series the team's management decided to partner with the American PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports team, due to lack of familiarity with the specifics of car racing in the USA and logistical issues. The day-to-day running of the car in the 2024 season was left to PR1, while the engineers working on it came from both teams. The selection of drivers – including American jewellery company owner Nick Boulle, Tom Dillmann and Jakub Śmiechowski - was down to the team from Poland.[109] The American outings of the team brought them IMSA LMP2 champions title in the debut year. Victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, podiums at Watkins Glen and Indianapolis and overall consistent performance from Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen, with 7th at Road America being the worst result of the season, not only brought the Polish-American project the champions’ crown, but also an invitation for team’s bronze driver Nick Boulle to 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans – with Boulle choosing Inter Europol Competition as his team for the race.[110][111][112]

Inter Europol Competition was the runner up of the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans

In the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team came very close to defending last year's victory. Śmiechowski, Vladislav Lomko and Clement Novalak finished second, 18 seconds behind the winners from United Autosports.[113] In the fourth hour of the race Novalak lost his left front wheel and returned to the pits on three wheels, soon coming down for another enforced stop to change the front of the car.[114][115] Eventually the Frenchman brought the car to the finish in second position, remaining in the top five for the last hours of the race.[116][117]

Alvarez, Dillmann and Lomko won the 4h of Le Castellet, team's first victory in the ELMS. The only victory of the season resulted in 2nd place in the overall classification

The ELMS part of the 2024 season also went very well for the team. At Circuit Paul Ricard team achieved their first win in the LMP2 class of the series, after a dramatic race and missing on 1-2 result just before the finish.[118] This victory turned out to be the only one of the season, but just as in IMSA consistency (7th similarly being worst result) was the deciding factor on the way to second position in overall classification for the informal captain of the #43 car Dillmann, as well as Lomko and Sebastián Álvarez. The crew finished the final race of the season in Portimao in fourth place, after confusion over serving a later revoked penalty.[119][120] Driving the No. 34 Oreca 07, Luca Ghiotto, Oliver Gray and Novalak placed seventh overall, scoring a single podium in Mugello. The LMP3 car just as #34 scored a single podium in the campaign, which was enough only for 9th, next-to-last, place overall.

The second season in the Le Mans Cup series ended with better results than the first. Alexander Bukhantsov and Rik Koen from the #34 Ligier ended the season in 11th place overall, scoring a single podium place,[121] while Timothy Creswick, Sebastian Gravlund and Daniel Ali generally presented a weaker pace and finished the season in 19th place.


In 2025 Inter Europol Competition again took part in IMSA SportsCar Championship with a single LMP2 car, numbered 43 - with a standalone effort, managed from a new base set up in the United States. Team took also part in the Asian Le Mans Series with two LMP3 cars. Finally, Inter Europol returned to the European Le Mans Series and Le Mans Cup.[122][123][124][106]

Inter Europol Competition took the victory in the 2025 12 Hours of Sebring

The year began with entries in the Asian Le Mans Series with two Ligier JS P320 LMP3 cars, numbered 34 and 43, which were the last appearances for these cars, as they were later replaced by the new generation JS P325 models. In a total of twelve starts, the team scored one podium finish, which earned both cars last places in the overall standings.[125]

The team finished its first independent season in the IMSA Sportscar Championship in third place overall, achieved after winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in the final minutes of the race,[126] three second places, and low finishes in the remaining three races due to technical problems.[127] A suspension failure late in the race at Canadian Tires Motorsport Park, while Tom Dillmann was leading the race, resulted in a serious accident, causing Dillmann to undergo surgery on his injured spine and miss the race at Road America, where he was replaced by BMW driver Connor De Phillippi.[128]

The team took their second 24 Hours of Le Mans victory after a race-long battle with VDS Panis Racing

With two official invitations received - one for Nick Boulle for winning the IMSA Jim Trueman Award and another for the team for placing 2nd overall in 2024 ELMS - the team also raced at the 24h Le Mans. Śmiechowski, Dillmann and new team driver Nick Yelloly scored Inter Europol's second win and third podium of the race. The number 43 car led the race from the morning, maintaining a lead of no more than twenty seconds over the number 48 car of the VDS Panis Racing team. The last hour of the race had a dramatic twist; 34 minutes before the finish, the team was given a drive-through penalty as a result of Yelloly's speeding in the pit lane during the previous stop. Subsequently lost lead was regained after another few minutes due to a suspension failure in the rivals' car. Yelloly finished the race with a lead of nearly two minutes over Panis team.[129][130][131][132]

Five second place finishes in the 2025 ELMS season resulted in second place in the overall standings

The battle with VDS Panis Racing continued throughout the year in the ELMS series, where it ended with a victory for the French team. Five second places in a total of six races earned Śmiechowski, Dillmann, and Yelloly second place in the overall series standings.[133] Driving car #34, Pedro Perino, Luca Ghiotto, and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer finished the season in tenth place overall, with fifth place at Spa-Francorchamps as their best result of the season. After a two-year break, the team returned to the podium in the LMP3 overall standings after a series of consistent performances and two podium finishes by Timothy Creswick, Reece Gold, and Douwe Dedecker in an #88 Ligier JS P325.

Another season of Le Mans Cup racing was marked by numerous driver and class changes. The best result in the overall standings was 6th place for car number 34 in the LMP3 Pro-am class, which was driven by four different crews during the year, achieving one podium finish in the race at Spa-Francorchamps; the victory in the last race of the season was lost due to a regulatory error.[134]


In the season of 2026 the team is set to compete in the same series and classes as in the previous year and two years earlier - 24 Hours of Le Mans, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and Le Mans Cup.[1][2][3][4][5] The year started with a double entry in the 24 Hours of Daytona, which brought the team their first double podium in the LMP2 class. The full-season car number 43, driven by returning for another year Tom Dillmann, Jeremy Clarke, Bijoy Garg and António Félix da Costa finished second, while the one-off entry of a car #343 in the hands of Śmiechowski, Nick Cassidy, returning to the team after three years Nolan Siegel and Georgios Kolovos took the lowest step of the podium.[135]

In the Asian Le Mans Series, both teams – LMP2 #43 and LMP3 #13 – had very different seasons. One second place in the LMP2 class earned the team 11th place in the overall standings.[136] In the LMP3 class, the team came very close to winning the championship again after seven years, with three wins and one second place at the finish line, with a car being driven by returning to the team after a year's hiatus Alexander Bukhantsov and two new drivers, Chun-Ting Chou and Henry Cubides Olarte. One of the victories, in the first race in Abu Dhabi, was canceled after the race. The crew was disqualified due to damper cover breaking off during the event and by team's decision not being repaired, which, following a protest by the eventual series champions, CLX Motorsport, was deemed a violation of the technical regulations.[137] The car with number 13 ultimately won the series runner-up title.[138]

Hypercar rumours

[edit]

Inter Europol Competition is poised to pair up with Honda on the WEC project, taking part in the championship with a car currently named Acura ARX-06, beginning 2027. One car could be run directly by Honda Racing Corporation, with a second operated by the team.[139][140]

Racing record

[edit]

24 Hours of Le Mans

[edit]
Year Entrant No. Car Drivers Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2019 Poland Inter Europol Competition 34 Ligier JS P217-Gibson United Kingdom Nigel Moore
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
United Kingdom James Winslow
LMP2 325 45th 16th
2020 Poland Inter Europol Competition 34 Ligier JS P217-Gibson Austria René Binder
Russia Matevos Isaakyan
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
LMP2 316[N 1] 42nd 17th
2021 Poland Inter Europol Competition 34 Oreca 07-Gibson United Kingdom Alex Brundle
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
Netherlands Renger van der Zande
LMP2 360 10th 5th
2022 Poland Inter Europol Competition 34 Oreca 07-Gibson United Kingdom Alex Brundle
Mexico Esteban Gutiérrez
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
LMP2 365 17th 13th
43 Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi
Denmark David Heinemeier Hansson
Switzerland Fabio Scherer
364 18th 14th
2023 Poland Inter Europol Competition 32 Oreca 07-Gibson Denmark Anders Fjordbach
United States Mark Kvamme
Denmark Jan Magnussen
LMP2 (Pro-Am) 117 DNF DNF
34 Spain Albert Costa
Switzerland Fabio Scherer
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
LMP2 328 9th 1st
2024 Poland Inter Europol Competition 34 Oreca 07-Gibson Grenada Vladislav Lomko[N 2]
France Clément Novalak
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
LMP2 297 16th 2nd
2025 Poland Inter Europol Competition 34 Oreca 07-Gibson United States Nick Boulle
Italy Luca Ghiotto
France Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer
LMP2 (Pro-Am) 363 27th 5th
43 France Tom Dillmann
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
United Kingdom Nick Yelloly
LMP2 367 18th 1st
2026 Poland Inter Europol Competition 43 Oreca 07-Gibson France Tom Dillmann
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
United Kingdom Nick Yelloly
LMP2
343 United States Bijoy Garg
TBA
TBA
LMP2

FIA World Endurance Championship

[edit]
Year Class No Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Pts
2021 LMP2 34 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 United Kingdom Alex Brundle (all rounds)
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski (all rounds)
Netherlands Renger van der Zande (rounds 1, 3–6)
Switzerland Louis Delétraz (round 2)
SPA
5
POR
5
MON
4
LMN
5[141]
BAH
9
BAH
5
5th 84
2022 LMP2 34 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Mexico Esteban Gutiérrez (all rounds)

Switzerland Fabio Scherer (round 1)
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski (all rounds)
United Kingdom Alex Brundle (rounds 2–6)

SEB
14
SPA
RET
LMN
13[142]
MON
4
FUJ
11
BAH
RET
11th 20
2023 LMP2 34 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Spain Albert Costa
Switzerland Fabio Scherer
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
SEB
4[143]
POR
10[144]
SPA
3
LMN
1
MON
5
FUJ
9
BAH
6
2nd 114

IMSA SportsCar Championship

[edit]
Year Class No Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Pts
2020 LMP2 51 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 United States Rob Hodes (round 5)
United States Austin McCusker (round 5)
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski (rounds 5, 7)
United Kingdom Matthew Bell (round 7)
United States Naveen Rao (round 7)
DAY SEB ELK ATL PLM
3
LGA SEB
4
6th 58
2024 LMP2 52[a] Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 United States Nick Boulle (all rounds)
France Tom Dillmann (all rounds)
Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi (round 1)
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski (rounds 1–3, 6–7)
DAY
4
SEB
6
WAT
3
MOP
1
RAM
7
IND
2
PLM
4
1st 2227
2025 LMP2 43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 France Tom Dillmann (rounds 1–4, 6–7)
Portugal António Félix da Costa (round 1)
United States Jon Field (round 1)
United States Bijoy Garg (rounds 1–3, 6–7)
United States Jeremy Clarke (rounds 2–7)
United States Connor De Phillippi (round 5)
DAY
10
SEB
1
WAT
8
MOP
10
RAM
2
IND
2
PLM
2
3rd 2117
2026 LMP2 43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 United States Jeremy Clarke
France Tom Dillmann
Portugal António Félix da Costa
United States Bijoy Garg
DAY
2
SEB
WAT
MOP
RAM
IND
PLM
2nd* 355*
343 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 New Zealand Nick Cassidy
Greece Georgios Kolovos
United States Nolan Siegel
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
DAY
3
SEB
WAT
MOP
RAM
IND
PLM
3rd* 325*

*Season in progress.

European Le Mans Series

[edit]
Year Class No Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos. Pts
2016 LMP3 13 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Jens Petersen
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
SIL
RET
IMO
15
RBR
RET
LEC
7
SPA
6
EST
5
10th 24.5
2017 LMP3 13 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Martin Hippe
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
SIL
6
MON
6
RBR
5
LEC
2
SPA
4
POR
RET
5th 56
2018 LMP3 13 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Martin Hippe
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
LEC
6
MON
4
RBR
3
SIL
5
SPA
12
POR
1
2nd 70.25
14 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Paul Scheuschner (all rounds)
Italy Luca Demarchi (rounds 1–5)
Sweden Henning Enqvist (round 1)
Germany Hendrik Still (rounds 2, 4)
Italy Guglielmo Belotti (round 3)
Switzerland Moritz Müller-Crepon (rounds 5–6)
LEC
12
MON
15
RBR
11
SIL
13
SPA
15
POR
8
15th 6.25
2019 LMP2 34 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Poland Jakub Śmiechowski (all rounds)
Spain Dani Clos (rounds 1–3)
France Léo Roussel (rounds 1–2)
France Adrien Tambay (rounds 3–4)
Austria Lukas Dunner (round 4)
Belgium Sam Dejonghe (rounds 5–6)
Switzerland Mathias Beche (rounds 5–6)
LEC
15
MON
13
CAT
RET
SIL
12
SPA
12
POR
RET
17th 2
LMP3 13 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Martin Hippe
United Kingdom Nigel Moore
LEC
3
MON
2
CAT
1
SIL
2
SPA
2
POR
11
2nd 94.5
14 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Paul Scheuschner (all rounds)
France Dino Lunardi (round 1)
Belgium Sam Dejonghe (rounds 2–4)
Austria Constantin Schöll (rounds 5–6)
LEC
13
MON
9
CAT
RET
SIL
RET
SPA
6
POR
7
12th 16.5
2020 LMP2 34 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Poland Jakub Śmiechowski (all rounds)
Austria Rene Binder (all rounds)
Russia Matevos Isaakyan (rounds 1–4)
LEC
7
SPA
11
LEC
6
MON
12
POR
RET
-- 12th 15.5
LMP3 13 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Germany Martin Hippe (all rounds)
United Kingdom Nigel Moore (rounds 1–3)
France Dino Lunardi (rounds 4–5)
LEC
2
SPA
RET
LEC
3
MON
1
POR
3
-- 2nd 73
2021 LMP3 13 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Germany Martin Hippe (all rounds)
Belgium Ugo de Wilde (all rounds)
France Julien Falchero (round 1)
Belgium Ulysse de Pauw (rounds 2–3)
Italy Mattia Pasini (round 4)
Australia Aidan Read (round 5)
France Adam Eteki (round 6)
CAT
3
RBR
4
LEC
RET
MON
3
SPA
RET
POR
1
4th 67
14 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Lithuania Julius Adomavičius (rounds 1, 3)
Italy Alessandro Bracalente (round 1)
Italy Mattia Pasini (rounds 1–3, 5)
Lithuania Gustas Grinbergas (round 2)
Poland Mateusz Kaprzyk (rounds 2–6)
France Erwin Creed (round 4)
Germany Marius Zug (round 4)
Chile Nico Pino (rounds 5–6)
Poland Patryk Krupiński (round 6)
CAT
8
RBR
5
LEC
6
MON
7
SPA
RET
POR
7
6th 36
2022 LMP2 43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi
Denmark David Heinemeier Hansson
Switzerland Fabio Scherer
LEC
11
IMO
9
MON
11
CAT
16
SPA
2
POR
4
8th 32
LMP3 13 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United States Charles Crews
Portugal Guilherme Oliveira
Chile Nico Pino
LEC
DSQ
IMO
8
MON
1
CAT
1
SPA
1
POR
RET
2nd 79
14 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 France Noam Abramczyk
Canada James Dayson
Poland Mateusz Kaprzyk
LEC
9
IMO
RET
MON
RET
CAT
10
SPA
8
POR
8
13th 13
2023 LMP2 43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 South Africa Jonathan Aberdein
Angola Rui Andrade
United Kingdom Olli Caldwell
CAT
RET
LEC
3
ARA
RET
SPA
RET
POR
7
POR
4
7th 33
LMP3 13 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United Kingdom Kai Askey
United States Wyatt Brichacek
Portugal Miguel Cristóvão
CAT
2
LEC
6
ARA
RET
SPA
2
POR
RET
POR
4
4th 57
2024 LMP2 34 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Italy Luca Ghiotto
United Kingdom Oliver Gray
France Clément Novalak
CAT
8
LEC
RET
IMO
7
SPA
4
MUG
3
POR
5
7th 47
43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Mexico Sebastián Álvarez
France Tom Dillmann
France Vladislav Lomko[N 2]
CAT
6
LEC
1
IMO
4
SPA
2
MUG
7
POR
4
2nd 81
LMP3 88 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United Kingdom Kai Askey
United Arab Emirates Alexander Bukhantsov[N 2]
Portugal Pedro Perino
CAT
6
LEC
RET
IMO
9
SPA
9
MUG
3
POR
RET
9th 27
2025 LMP2 34 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Italy Luca Ghiotto
Portugal Pedro Perino
France Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer
CAT
9
LEC
10
IMO
6
SPA
5
SIL
9
POR
RET
10th 23
43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 France Tom Dillmann
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
United Kingdom Nick Yelloly
CAT
10
LEC
2
IMO
2
SPA
2
SIL
2
POR
2
2nd 92
LMP3 88 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 United Kingdom Timothy Creswick
Belgium Douwe Dedecker
United States Reece Gold
CAT
3
LEC
4
IMO
7
SPA
3
SIL
5
POR
6
3rd 66
2026 LMP2 34 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist
United States Bijoy Garg
TBA
CAT
LEC
IMO
SPA
SIL
POR
43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 France Tom Dillmann
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
United Kingdom Nick Yelloly
CAT
LEC
IMO
SPA
SIL
POR
LMP3 13 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 United Arab Emirates Alexander Bukhantsov[N 2]
Taiwan Chun-Ting Chou
Colombia Henry Cubides Olarte
CAT
LEC
IMO
SPA
SIL
POR

Asian Le Mans Series

[edit]
Year Class No Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pos. Pts
2018-19 LMP3 13 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Martin Hippe
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
SHA
1
FUJ
2
CHA
2
SEP
1
1st 87
2019-20 LMP2 33 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Australia John Corbett (all rounds)
Australia Nathan Kumar (all rounds)
Australia Mitchell Neilson (rounds 1–2)
Singapore Danial Frost (rounds 3–4)
SHA
5
BEN
4
SEP
6
CHA
6
4th 38
34 Ligier JS P217 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 Switzerland Mathias Beche
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
United Kingdom James Winslow
SHA
4
BEN
RET
SEP
5
CHA
7
5th 28
LMP3 13 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Germany Martin Hippe
United Kingdom Nigel Moore
SHA
1
BEN
2
SEP
3
CHA
RET
3rd 59
14 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Australia Peter Paddon
Australia Garth Walden
United States Austin McCusker
BEN
4
9th 12
18 Ligier JS P3 Nissan VK50VE 5.0 L V8 Hong Kong Philip Kadoorie
United Kingdom Dan Wells
SEP
6
CHA
6
8th 16
2022 LMP3 13 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Russia Alexander Bukhantsov (rounds 1–2)
Portugal Guilherme Oliveira (all rounds)
Chile Nico Pino (all rounds)
Canada James Dayson (rounds 3–4)
DUB
5
DUB
5
ABU
7
ABU
5
7th 36
2023 LMP2 43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 United States Christian Bogle
United States Charles Crews
United States Nolan Siegel
DUB
RET
DUB
1
ABU
4
ABU
RET
5th 39
LMP3 53 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United Kingdom Kai Askey
United States Wyatt Brichacek
Portugal Miguel Cristóvão
DUB
9
DUB
RET
ABU
9
ABU
6
12th 12
63 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Canada Adam Ali
Canada James Dayson
United States John Schauerman
DUB
11
DUB
11
ABU
12
ABU
RET
15th 0
73 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United Arab Emirates Alexander Bukhantsov[N 2]
Australia John Corbett
United Kingdom James Winslow
DUB
5
DUB
7
ABU
10
ABU
5
7th 27
2024-25 LMP3 34 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Canada Daniel Ali
United Kingdom Timothy Creswick
Belgium Douwe Dedecker
SEP
RET
SEP
5
DUB
3
DUB
5
ABU
4
ABU
6
5th 55
43 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United Kingdom Steve Brooks
Denmark Mikkel Kristensen
Switzerland Kevin Rabin
SEP
RET
SEP
6
DUB
5
DUB
6
ABU
RET
ABU
5
7th 36
2025-26 LMP2 43 Oreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V8 New Zealand Nick Cassidy (rounds 1–2)
Greece Georgios Kolovos (all rounds)
United States Nolan Siegel (all rounds)
United States Bijoy Garg (rounds 3–6)
SEP
13
SEP
12
DUB
11
DUB
RET
ABU
9
ABU
2
11th 20
LMP3 13 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 Saint Kitts and Nevis Alexander Bukhantsov[N 2]
Taiwan Chun-Ting Chou
Colombia Henry Cubides Olarte
SEP
1
SEP
4
DUB
1
DUB
7
ABU
DSQ
ABU
2
2nd 86

Le Mans Cup

[edit]
Year Class No Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Pts
2022 LMP3 54 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 France Noam Abramczyk
United States Don Yount
LMN
RET
LMN
20
- -
2023 LMP3 13 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Spain Santiago Concepción Serrano
United Kingdom Ben Stone
CAT
RET
LMN
20
LMN
RET
LEC
RET
ARA
RET
SPA
RET
POR
9
25th 2
14 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 Canada Daniel Ali
Australia Andres Latorre Canon
CAT
22
LMN
DNS
LMN
25
LEC
12
ARA
RET
SPA
16
POR
18
28th 0
15 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United States Bryson Morris
United Kingdom Chris Short
CAT
RET
LMN
30
LMN
12
LEC
24
ARA
13
SPA
17
POR
7
20th 6
2024 LMP3 34 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United Arab Emirates Alexander Bukhantsov[N 2]
Netherlands Rik Koen
CAT
3
LEC
8
LMN
RET
LMN
11
SPA
RET
MUG
9
POR
16
11th 21
43 Ligier JS P320 Nissan VK56DE 5.6 L V8 United Kingdom Timothy Creswick (all rounds)
Denmark Sebastian Gravlund (rounds 1–5, 7)
Canada Daniel Ali (round 6)
CAT
10
LEC
22
LMN
DNS
LMN
20
SPA
RET
MUG
18
POR
9
19th 3
2025 LMP3
Pro/Am
34 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 United States Aristotle Balogh (rounds 1–2)
Canada Garett Grist (rounds 1–2)
Sweden William Karlsson (rounds 3–4)
United Kingdom Chris Short (rounds 3–4)
United Kingdom Timothy Creswick (round 5)
United States Bijoy Garg (round 5)
Portugal Jose Cautela (round 7)
United States Shawn Rashid (round 7)
CAT
11
LEC
10
LMN
5
LMN
5
SPA
3
SIL
POR
4
6th 40
43 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 China David Pun
Brazil Sérgio Sette Câmara
CAT
LEC
LMN
10
LMN
7
SPA
SIL
POR
14th 5
LMP3 5 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 United States Brady Golan
United States Nolan Siegel
CAT
LEC
LMN
LMN
SPA
SIL
15
POR
- -
2026 LMP3
Pro/Am
34 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 United Arab Emirates Alexander Bukhantsov[N 2]
United States Shawn Rashid
CAT
LEC
LMN
SPA
SIL
POR
LMP3 43 Ligier JS P325 Toyota V35A-FTS 3.5 L V6 Denmark Christian Dannemand Jørgensen
TBA
CAT
LEC
LMN
SPA
SIL
POR

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Inter Europol Competition is a Polish professional team specializing in endurance racing, founded in 2010 by Wojciech Śmiechowski and sponsored by the bakery manufacturer Inter Europol. The team fields prototype cars in categories such as LMP2 and LMP3, competing in international series including the (WEC), (ELMS), (ALMS), and . It gained prominence as the first Polish team to complete the in 2019 and achieved historic victories in the LMP2 class at that event in 2023 and 2025, marking the first wins for a Polish squad in the race's storied history. The team's origins trace back to Śmiechowski's automotive involvement in the 1980s, evolving into a formal racing operation when his son, Jakub Śmiechowski, began competing in 2.0 in 2010. Inter Europol Competition entered endurance racing in 2016, debuting in the ELMS and V de V Sports series, where it secured the V de V Endurance Challenge championship in the 2016-2017 season and finished third in ELMS LMP3 in 2018. By 2018-2019, the team claimed the LMP3 title, prompting a shift to the more competitive LMP2 class in 2019, which included its debut and expansion into the series with races at and the . The organization relocated its workshop to the vicinity of in 2020 to support growing operations and entered the full FIA WEC season in 2021, achieving a fifth-place finish in LMP2 that year and at . Key milestones include the 2023 Le Mans LMP2 victory with the #34 Oreca 07-Gibson driven by Jakub Śmiechowski, Fabio Scherer, and Albert Costa, which also contributed to a vice-championship in the FIA WEC LMP2 standings. In 2025, the #43 entry secured another LMP2 win at Le Mans with drivers Nick Yelloly, Jakub Śmiechowski, and Tom Dillmann, despite a late penalty, finishing 1 minute and 55 seconds ahead of the runner-up. The team has since expanded its fleet to include up to seven cars across multiple series, such as the Michelin Le Mans Cup and Ligier European Series, while maintaining a focus on developing Polish talent and raising the national profile in global motorsport. Known as the "#TurboBakers" for its bakery sponsorship, Inter Europol Competition operates from Poland and emphasizes precision engineering, international partnerships, and inspiring the next generation of racers.

History

2010–2015: Formation and single-seater racing

Inter Europol Competition was founded in 2010 by Wojciech Śmiechowski in , establishing the outfit as a dedicated single-seater racing team with roots in Śmiechowski's longstanding involvement in dating back to the 1980s. The team emerged from initial collaborations in lower formulas, quickly focusing on competitive single-seater categories to build experience and infrastructure. Based in the , the operation drew early financial support from Śmiechowski's family-owned business, Inter Europol SA, a leading Polish producer of baked goods that became the team's primary sponsor and inspired its nickname, the "Turbo Bakers." The team's inaugural competitive efforts centered on the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC), where it fielded entries starting in 2010 to nurture emerging talent. , son of the founder and a key early driver, competed for the team in this series, contributing to its growth through consistent participation across multiple seasons. By 2013, Śmiechowski delivered strong results, securing third place overall in the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC and another third in the FIA Central European Zone (CEZ) championship, highlighting the team's developing prowess in regional single-seater racing. In 2013, Inter Europol Competition expanded into the series, debuting at the season finale in with a GP2-spec car to test higher-level open-wheel machinery. This move built on the team's foundation, providing exposure to more powerful and technically demanding vehicles. The expansion paid dividends in 2014, as claimed the Formula class championship in , driving a GP2/05 powered by a engine and achieving multiple victories en route to the title. These successes solidified the team's reputation in European single-seater circuits before its shift toward endurance racing in 2016.

2016–2018: Entry into endurance and LMP3 success

Following its success in single-seater racing, Inter Europol Competition expanded into endurance racing in 2016 by entering the LMP3 class of the (ELMS) and the V de V Endurance Series, fielding a chassis powered by a VK50 engine. The team, backed by Polish bakery manufacturer Inter Europol SA—earning it the nickname "Turbo Bakers" in reference to the sponsor's focus on swift production and delivery—debuted with drivers and Martin Hippe in the #13 entry, finishing 12th overall in the ELMS LMP3 standings while securing the V de V LMP3 title. In 2017, the team achieved its first ELMS podium with a second-place finish at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, driven by Śmiechowski and , contributing to a fifth-place overall championship result in LMP3. The "Turbo Bakers" also defended their V de V Endurance Series LMP3 crown that year, with Śmiechowski and Hendrik Still piloting the #22 to multiple victories and consistent top finishes, including a double podium at . The 2018 season marked a breakthrough in ELMS, where Inter Europol fielded two JS P3s: the #13 shared by , Śmiechowski, and occasional co-drivers like Nigel Moore, and the #14 with a rotating lineup including Moore and Dino Lunardi. The team clinched runner-up honors in the LMP3 drivers' and teams' championships, highlighted by their maiden ELMS class victory in the #13 car at the 4 Hours of , where and Śmiechowski led the final stages to win by 15 seconds over rivals. This result, combined with additional podiums at and Spa-Francorchamps, solidified the team's growing reputation in prototype endurance racing.

2019–2020: LMP2 transition and Le Mans debut

In 2019, Inter Europol Competition transitioned to the LMP2 category in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), acquiring a Ligier JS P217 Gibson prototype to complement its ongoing LMP3 program, marking a strategic upgrade from its prior successes in the LMP3 class where it had secured runner-up honors in 2018. The team fielded the #34 entry driven primarily by team principal Jakub Śmiechowski alongside international hires such as British drivers Nigel Moore and James Winslow, focusing on building experience in the more competitive prototype division. This shift allowed the Polish squad to contest higher-stakes endurance events while maintaining a multi-class presence. The LMP2 program's highlight that year was its debut at the , where the #34 qualified 26th overall with a lap time of 3:30.744 set by Moore and completed 325 laps to finish 16th in the LMP2 class and 45th overall, demonstrating reliability despite the in the 21-car LMP2 field. Concurrently, Inter Europol expanded internationally by entering the 2019–20 () with a JS P217 in LMP2 (#34) and additional entries in LMP3, achieving competitive finishes including a near-podium run at Sepang where the LMP2 car held second before dropping to fourth due to a late pit issue. The 2020 season brought significant challenges due to the , which led to postponements and cancellations in the ELMS calendar, reducing it to four rounds starting in and forcing adaptations like enhanced safety protocols and condensed schedules across global series. Inter Europol's first full LMP2 campaign in ELMS with the #34 JS P217, now driven by Śmiechowski, Austrian René Binder, and Russian Matevos Isaakyan, yielded solid results including a fifth-place finish at Le Castellet, culminating in 11th in the teams' standings and 15.5 points for its drivers. The team also returned to the in September, finishing 17th in LMP2 and 45th overall amid the delayed, spectator-free event. In ALMS, the dual #33 and #34 LMP2 entries ended fourth and fifth in the standings, respectively, underscoring the program's growing maturity despite the disruptions.

2021–2023: WEC entry and first Le Mans victory

Inter Europol Competition made its full-season debut in the (WEC) in 2021, entering the LMP2 class as a team with a single Gibson chassis numbered #34. The driver lineup featured Polish racer alongside Renger van der Zande and , marking the first Polish-flagged entry in the series. The team quickly adapted to the global stage, securing consistent results in the midfield, including a fifth-place finish at their opener, the , and another fifth at . Further highlights included a fourth at and a third at Fuji, contributing to an overall fifth-place finish in the LMP2 teams' standings with 84 points across the six-round season. In 2022, the team retained its WEC presence with the #34 , now driven by Śmiechowski, Brundle, and , maintaining steady point-scoring performances amid a competitive field that saw the introduction of the Hypercar class. Concurrently, Inter Europol mounted a strong challenge for the LMP2 title in the (ELMS), fielding 07s in #14 and #43 configurations with rotating lineups including and ; the squad amassed 79 points to finish competitively in the teams' classification. These efforts underscored the team's growing operational maturity across major endurance platforms. The 2023 season represented a breakthrough for Inter Europol in the WEC, highlighted by a historic victory in the LMP2 class at the . The #34 , driven by Śmiechowski, , and , completed 328 laps to win by 21.015 seconds over Team WRT's #41 entry, securing the team's maiden WEC triumph and Poland's first class victory. This success propelled Inter Europol to second place in the final LMP2 teams' standings with 114 points, earning them the privateer honors as the top non-factory-supported squad. In parallel, the team concluded the ELMS campaign with solid results, including podium contention, reinforcing their status as a leading LMP2 contender in European endurance racing.

2024–present: IMSA championship and second Le Mans win

In 2024, Inter Europol Competition expanded its international presence by partnering with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports to contest the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the LMP2 class with the No. 43 07-Gibson, driven primarily by and Nick Boulle. The team demonstrated remarkable consistency across the 11-round season, achieving multiple podium finishes and securing their first victory at the Mosport round on July 14, where Dillmann held off challengers by 0.658 seconds after 117 laps. This result, combined with strong performances at venues like Watkins Glen and , propelled them to the LMP2 drivers' and teams' championships, clinching the titles with a fourth-place finish at the season-ending Motul on October 12 by a 61-point margin over Riley. That same year, Inter Europol achieved a runner-up finish in the LMP2 class at the , with the No. 43 car completing 297 laps but falling short of victory by 18.651 seconds to the winning No. 22 entry. In the , the team fielded two LMP2 entries (Nos. 43 and 7) alongside an LMP3 car, earning the vice-championship in LMP2 through consistent top-five results across six rounds, highlighted by a win at the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Building on their 2023 Le Mans triumph, these results solidified Inter Europol's status as a leading LMP2 outfit in multiple series. The 2025 season marked further dominance, beginning with a in the LMP2 class at the Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 15, where Dillmann led the No. 43 car to a narrow 1.117-second win over after 347 laps. At the on June 15, Inter Europol claimed their second LMP2 class in three years, with the No. 43 ORECA driven by , , and overcoming a late penalty for pit lane speeding to finish 1 minute and 55 seconds ahead of the runner-up No. 48, completing 367 laps amid intense competition. This repeat success, the first for a Polish team at , underscored the squad's strategic prowess and driver synergy. As of November 2025, Inter Europol remains competitive in the ongoing and campaigns, contending for LMP2 podium finishes in the WEC with the No. 43 entry's win contributing significantly to their points tally, while securing second place overall in the ELMS LMP2 teams' standings through consistent top-three results at rounds like and .

Organisation

Ownership and management

Inter Europol Competition is owned by Inter Europol SA, a Polish bakery company established as a in 1989 by the Śmiechowski family and headquartered in Marki near . The racing team itself was founded in 2010 by Wojciech Śmiechowski, president of Inter Europol SA, who initially served as the team's owner and provided financial backing through the bakery's resources. Wojciech Śmiechowski's son, , assumed the role of team principal, combining operational leadership with his duties as a professional driver. Under this family-led structure, the team relocated its base to the vicinity of , , by 2020 to centralize operations and engineering efforts. Key management decisions have included the team's entry into the in 2021, marking its expansion into top-tier global endurance racing, and its independent full-season commitment to the starting in 2025, which facilitated achievements like the LMP2 class win at the 2025 .

Drivers and key personnel

Jakub has been a pivotal figure in Inter Europol Competition since the team's inception in 2010, serving as both team principal and a core driver with extensive experience in endurance racing. As a Silver-rated Polish driver born in 1991, he has competed in numerous high-profile events, including multiple starts at the , where he has driven the team's LMP2 entries. His dual role has allowed him to shape the team's strategy while actively contributing on track, emphasizing reliability and consistency in long-distance formats. The team has bolstered its driver roster with strategic hires of international talent to pair with Śmiechowski's leadership. In 2023, Inter Europol fielded and alongside Śmiechowski in the #34 07-Gibson, forming a balanced lineup that capitalized on their combined expertise in prototype racing. For the 2025 edition, —a Gold-rated French driver with prior and WEC experience—and , a British driver known for his stints in GT and prototype categories, joined Śmiechowski to drive the #43 entry, enhancing the team's global competitiveness. These selections reflect hires focused on proven performers capable of handling the demands of events. Inter Europol's engineering staff plays a critical role in vehicle preparation, with technical directors overseeing LMP2 configurations for optimal performance in series like the and . Driver selection criteria prioritize emerging Polish talent to nurture national motorsport development, while integrating international drivers for their specialized experience in high-stakes racing environments. This approach ensures a mix of local pride and global proficiency, as seen in past integrations of young Polish prospects like Mateusz Kaprzyk. Śmiechowski's management oversight as team principal guides these decisions, maintaining alignment between operational goals and on-track execution.

Equipment and partnerships

Chassis and vehicles

Inter Europol Competition entered prototype racing in the LMP3 class using the chassis from 2016 to 2019, paired with a VK50VE . This closed-cockpit prototype, developed by Onroak Automotive under the banner to meet LMP3 regulations, enabled the team to claim championships in the VdeV Endurance Series in 2016 and 2017, as well as runner-up finishes in the in 2018 and 2019. From 2020 to 2024, the team utilized the for its LMP3 program. As of 2025, Inter Europol fields the updated Ligier JS P325 chassis in LMP3, competing in series such as the and Michelin Le Mans Cup. The team's transition to the LMP2 category in 2019 initially featured the Ligier JS P217 chassis, but it adopted the as its primary platform from 2021 onward across multiple series, including the and . The , a spec LMP2 prototype emphasizing reliability and balanced performance, has powered notable Le Mans entries such as the #34 and #43 cars, which secured class victories in the in 2023 and 2025, respectively. The team's vehicles across classes typically sport liveries reflecting sponsor Inter Europol SA's branding, prominently featuring red, white, and blue accents to highlight partnerships and national motifs.

Engines, suppliers, and technical collaborations

Inter Europol Competition has relied on the standardized Gibson GK428 for its LMP2 Oreca 07 prototypes since transitioning to the category in 2019, featuring a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated design that delivers approximately 560 horsepower. This power unit, the sole engine option in LMP2 regulations, provides consistent performance across endurance series, enabling the team's competitive results in events like the . In its earlier LMP3 phase from 2016 to 2019, the team powered chassis with the VK50VE V8, a 5.0-liter producing around horsepower, adhering to the category's spec requirements for balanced competition. From 2020 to 2024, LMP3 entries used the VK56DE 5.6-liter V8 (~460 hp). As of 2025, the team employs the V35A-FTS 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged in its LMP3 cars, producing approximately 500 horsepower. Michelin has served as the exclusive tire supplier for Inter Europol Competition across all contested series since the team's endurance debut in 2016, including the , , and . The French manufacturer adapts compounds specifically for high-demand races like the , optimizing grip and durability over the 24-hour distance on the . The team maintains close technical collaborations with key suppliers to enhance development and performance. With , Inter Europol works on fine-tuning the chassis setup for optimal handling in diverse conditions, leveraging the manufacturer's expertise in prototype engineering. Additionally, a partnership with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports provides operational and technical support for entries, facilitating shared resources and preparation since 2024.

Competition results

24 Hours of Le Mans

Inter Europol Competition made its debut at the in 2019, marking the team's entry into prototype racing with a focus on the LMP2 class. Since then, the Polish squad has competed consistently, achieving notable success including class victories in 2023 and 2025, while maintaining a 100% completion rate across seven starts. The team's performances have highlighted their growth from midfield contenders to regulars, often powered by Gibson prototypes in recent years. The following table summarizes the team's complete results at the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
YearCar #DriversChassisClass Position (LMP2)Overall PositionLaps CompletedNotes
201934 / Nigel Moore / John Winslow JS P217 Gibson16th45th325Debut entry; finished the full distance despite challenges.
202034Matevos Isaakyan / Rene Binder / JS P217 Gibson17th41st325Steady run in a shortened season affected by protocols.
202134 / Renger van der Zande / Rob Brundle Gibson5th10th360Strong showing with a top-five class finish.
202234 / Rob Brundle / Gibson13th17th365Dual-car effort; #34 led the team's results.
202243 / / Gibson14th18th364Second entry; close to #34 in a competitive field.
202334 / / Gibson1st7th370First class victory, a historic win for the Polish team.
202434 / / Gibson2nd16th297Podium finish, narrowly missing repeat victory.
202543 / / Gibson1st8th362Second class win, secured amid late-race drama including a penalty recovery.
These results reflect Inter Europol Competition's progression within the 's flagship event, with consistent reliability and strategic improvements contributing to their podium dominance in recent editions.

Inter Europol Competition debuted in the (WEC) in 2021, contesting the LMP2 class with an 07-Gibson. The team participated in four of the season's five races, marking a learning curve for the Polish outfit as newcomers to the series. Their strongest performance came at the season-opening , where the #34 entry finished 5th in LMP2 after a solid race effort despite challenging conditions. The season ended with the team in 5th place in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams, accumulating 84 points from consistent top-10 finishes across their entries. The 2022 campaign saw Inter Europol return to LMP2 with improved experience, but reliability issues and competitive pressure limited their results. The team scored points in several rounds, with the #34 car showing pace in qualifying at key events like . Despite these efforts, they concluded the season in 11th place in the LMP2 teams' standings with 20 points, reflecting a developmental year focused on building consistency. Inter Europol's 2023 season represented a significant step forward in LMP2, with the team achieving multiple strong results and their first podiums in the series. At the , the #34 secured a podium finish, marking the team's debut top-three in WEC. The season culminated in 2nd place in the LMP2 teams' standings with 114 points, trailing champions Team WRT by 59 points and demonstrating the Polish squad's growing competitiveness among privateer entries. Entering 2024, Inter Europol maintained momentum in LMP2, posting consistent top-5 finishes in non-Le Mans rounds such as , , and Spa-Francorchamps, where the team capitalized on strong and driver performances. The season saw them ranked in the top 5 of the LMP2 teams' standings midway through, underscoring their evolution into a regular front-runner. In 2025, the team finished 4th in the LMP2 teams' standings with 92 points, achieving top-5 results at , , Fuji, and while securing additional podiums. Over their WEC tenure through 2025, Inter Europol Competition has secured 5 podiums in the LMP2 class, highlighting their progress from debutants to podium contenders in endurance racing's premier global series.

Inter Europol Competition debuted in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2024 through a with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports, fielding the No. 52 07-Gibson in the LMP2 class for the full season. The team achieved consistent results in their initial outings, with finishes at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring contributing to their championship campaign, including a best result of sixth in class at one of the events. The 2024 season marked a breakthrough, as Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen clinched the LMP2 teams' and drivers' championships through consistent top-5 finishes and podiums, including a win at the at , securing the title by 61 points over the No. 74 Riley entry after a fourth-place finish at the season finale, . Key personnel included drivers and Bijoy Garg, whose experience from European helped adapt to IMSA's demanding schedule. For the 2025 season, Inter Europol Competition operated independently with the No. 43 in LMP2, maintaining strong contention for the title amid competitive fields. The team achieved strong results including finishes, ending the year third in the LMP2 standings after a second-place at Motul . , a prominent figure in owner-driver programs, contributed to the garagista-style involvement that underscored the team's grassroots-to-professional progression in American .

European Le Mans Series

Inter Europol Competition entered the (ELMS) in 2016 with a in the LMP3 class, finishing 12th in the teams' standings that season. The team improved in 2017, achieving 5th place overall in LMP3 despite challenges with reliability and competition. In 2018, Inter Europol secured its first ELMS victory at the 4 Hours of , contributing to a runner-up finish in the LMP3 teams' championship with 70 points, just behind RLR MSport. The team transitioned to LMP2 in 2019 while maintaining a strong LMP3 program, finishing 12th in LMP2 and vice-champions in LMP3 after a win at and a second-place at the season finale in . The 2020 season, shortened by the , saw the #14 LMP3 entry claim podiums at Spa-Francorchamps and , ending 6th overall in LMP3—the best result for that car at the time. From 2021 to 2023, Inter Europol demonstrated consistent performance in LMP3 with top-5 finishes each year, including victories at and in 2021, three consecutive wins in 2022 that led to another runner-up championship, and a 3rd-place overall in 2023. In 2024, Inter Europol shifted focus to LMP2 with two 07-Gibson entries, achieving 2nd place in the teams' standings. The team secured two victories that season: the 4 Hours of with the #34 car driven by , Clément Novalak, and , and the 4 Hours of Le Castellet with the #43 entry. Across its ELMS tenure from 2016 to 2024, Inter Europol amassed 7 race wins between the LMP3 and LMP2 classes, often finishing as near-champions in LMP3 with four runner-up titles. The program's success mirrors similarities to the team's efforts in the , emphasizing endurance racing consistency in prototype categories.

Asian Le Mans Series

Inter Europol Competition entered the (ALMS) in the 2018–2019 season with a in the LMP3 class, securing the overall championship title through consistent performance, including victories at the 4 Hours of and the season finale at the 4 Hours of Sepang. The team's drivers, and Martin Hippe, achieved two wins and two second-place finishes across the four-race winter calendar, earning an automatic entry to the . Building on their LMP3 roots in the , this debut Asian campaign marked Inter Europol's expansion into international endurance racing during the off-season. In the 2019–2020 season, Inter Europol shifted to the LMP2 class, fielding two JS P217 entries and finishing fourth overall with the #33 car and fifth with the #34, despite mechanical setbacks in the finale at . The team completed the four-race series amid emerging global challenges, but abandoned further participation in the 2020–2021 ALMS due to the , redirecting focus to European commitments. Inter Europol made a brief return to the in 2023 with entries in LMP2 and LMP3, achieving a finish at Yas Marina in the LMP2 class during the while challenging for the . The winter timing of the allowed the team to test and refine setups for their primary program, leveraging the series' role as a pre-season development platform.

Le Mans Cup

Inter Europol Competition made its debut in the 's GT3 class in 2020 with the #86 , securing a 10th-place finish at the round. The entry marked the team's initial foray into GT racing within the series, driven by a lineup including Polish racers Michał Broniszewski and . In 2021, the team continued its limited GT program with mid-pack performances across the season, highlighted by a best result of 7th place at . This effort culminated in an 11th-place overall championship standing, reflecting consistent but non-podium contention in the competitive field. Following the 2021 season, Inter Europol Competition withdrew from GT entries in the , pivoting its resources toward prototype categories such as LMP2 and LMP3 in higher-profile endurance series.

References

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