[Team KWT] Le Mans 24 Hours "3rd Place" Finish! Overcoming Engine Trouble in the Final 7 Hours to Reach the Podium

■ Circuit: Le Mans Bugatti Circuit
■ Date: April 18-19, 2026
■ Team Name: Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar
■ Bib Number: #11
■ Riders: Romain Ramos / Christoffer Gamarino / Grégory Leblanc
■ Result: Qualifying 8th (1'35.389) / Race 3rd (Laps: 848, Best Lap: 1'36.757)

Le Mans 24 Hours Endurance Race Results Report

The opening round of the FIM Endurance World Championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours Endurance Race, has concluded.
For this season's opener, Team KWT entered with a four-rider lineup: Romain Ramos, Christoffer Gamarino, and Grégory Leblanc, continuing from last season, with Enzo De La Vega as the reserve rider.

This season, we introduced a new machine with a redesigned fairing and winglets, significantly improving stability. We felt good about the machine's performance from the pre-test through the race week, and were confident in further optimizing its setup.

April 16-17 / Qualifying

In the first qualifying session, the team used one new tire each for the front and rear to evaluate tires and confirm the direction for setup. For the second qualifying session, the plan was to confirm new tires for qualifying and the race, while fine-tuning the race setup.

In the first qualifying session, held in dry conditions, rider Blue Romain recorded a time of 1'35.450, placing him 6th in his group. Rider Yellow Christoffer, using Romain's used tires, achieved 1'35.906, also placing him 6th in his group. Rider Red Grégory Leblanc focused on machine setup during his run, recording 1'36.681 for 8th in his group. The qualifying session was used to gather data.

In the subsequent second qualifying session, the team successfully improved their overall times.
Romain recorded 1'35.514, placing him 6th in his group, while Christoffer set a personal best of 1'35.401, also placing him 6th. Grégory achieved the fastest team time at 1'35.378 but unfortunately crashed shortly after. Although the session concluded without major disruption, the team was unable to complete the planned tire evaluations.

The combined times of Grégory and Christoffer secured the team 8th position on the grid.
During the free practice session before the race, the team struggled to find a consistent setup. However, they calmly analyzed the situation, held thorough meetings, and redefined their approach, discovering a new setup to take into the race.

April 18-19 / Race - 3rd Place

Race day was mostly sunny, but the conditions were slightly chilly due to clouds and wind.
Romain Ramos started as the first rider. From 8th on the grid, he maintained a stable pace, steadily gaining positions from the early stages. Christoffer Gamarino followed with a solid ride, and KWT, with its fuel efficiency advantage, capitalized on rival pit stop timings, moving up to second place within the first two hours of the race.

After handing over to Grégory Leblanc, the momentum continued, and the team was in 5th place at the three-hour mark. They continued to lap at a consistent pace, enjoying a smooth race without major issues in the first half.

Approximately five and a half hours into the race, the first safety car of the event was deployed due to an oil flag. After a 15-minute interruption, the race resumed, and KWT calmly maintained their position. They continued to race without losing rhythm after the restart.

As the race entered the night, the temperature dropped sharply, reaching around 7 degrees Celsius in the late hours, creating challenging conditions. Despite this, the team maintained focus and continued to race, passing the 8-hour mark in 5th place and securing intermediate points. Their consistent performance from the start paid off. At the halfway point of the race, they were in 4th place, three laps behind the leader.

With other teams experiencing issues, they moved up to 3rd place after 13 hours, staying in contention for the lead and steadily improving their position. After sunrise, the battle for third place intensified.

At the 16-hour mark, they defended their 3rd position in a close fight for intermediate points, earning another set of points. They demonstrated their strength by consistently accumulating points at crucial moments.

However, the race presented another challenge in the closing stages.

With less than 7 hours remaining, Grégory, who was running in 4th place, encountered an issue and the engine stopped near the pit lane, creating an emergency situation. Grégory pushed the bike back to the pits, and the team immediately began repair work.

The faulty part was quickly replaced, and thanks to the precise judgment and work of the mechanics, the machine was back on track in a short time.

After rejoining the race, they were 4th, approximately 12 laps behind the leader. Amidst changing conditions and safety car periods, the team continued to race tenaciously. With two hours remaining, the leading teams encountered issues, allowing Kawasaki Webike Trickstar to move up to 3rd place.

And so, in the final moments.
After enduring the long 24-hour battle, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar crossed the finish line in 3rd place, securing a valuable podium finish in the opening round.

This result was achieved through precise decision-making and adjustments during the race, despite facing challenges from qualifying, and the sheer determination of the riders and the entire team.
Furthermore, by consistently securing intermediate points at the 8-hour and 16-hour marks, they have positioned themselves strongly in the championship standings. This 3rd place is not just a result, but a podium that proves the team's evolution and their "strength to endure." Carrying this momentum, KWT will now head to the next round, the 8 Hours of Spa Motos.

Rider and Manager Comments

Romain Ramos' Comment

I am very satisfied with how this race went. Throughout the Le Mans race week, the team worked incredibly hard to prepare a good bike for the race, and their efforts ultimately led to a podium finish.
I have a very good feeling about the new machine; the improvements made by the team have enhanced its performance. Our pit stops, in particular, highlighted the team's strength, and I am very grateful for that.

The most challenging part of the race was the cold at night; the conditions were so cold that my hands were numb, but everyone pushed through, and we achieved an important result. We aim to continue improving for the next race at Spa and fight for the win. Spa is a special circuit for me, so I want to have a great race there.

Christoffer Gamarino's Comment

This race was very positive. The team did an almost perfect job, and even when unexpected problems occurred, they were resolved quickly. A 24-hour race is always difficult, but achieving a podium finish is something we can be truly proud of.

The bike has definitely improved compared to last year. Honestly, I didn't expect this much improvement, but the new fairing has greatly increased stability at high speeds. Of course, a 24-hour race always presents challenges, and it's crucial to calmly judge when to push and when to hold back. The bike functioned well overall, but there were some difficult moments in certain conditions, which we will work on for future races.

Spa has completely different characteristics from Le Mans, so it will be important to quickly identify the right setup direction. We had grip issues at Le Mans, but that doesn't necessarily mean we'll have the same problem at Spa.
I'm really looking forward to riding the bike again.

Grégory Leblanc's Comment

I am satisfied with the result, considering the limited running time with the new machine before the race.
The team and the bike have definitely evolved compared to last year, and we have seen significant improvements in lap times. We didn't have major issues during the race, but early on, we struggled to get the tires to work properly with the track temperature.

While this result is positive, we still need to improve to compete for the win. Spa, in particular, is a circuit known for its long straights, demanding higher performance.
I am grateful to the entire team and all the Kawasaki fans who support us.

Team Manager Ryuji Tsuruta's Comment

I am incredibly proud to have secured a 3rd place podium finish at the Le Mans 24 Hours Endurance Race.
There was immense tension throughout the team when Grégory's machine suddenly stopped with less than 6 hours and 30 minutes remaining, and he had to push it back to the pits himself.

However, what followed was a true embodiment of "teamwork."
Despite the unforeseen situation of the next rider not being ready due to the emergency pit stop, Grégory made the decisive choice to return to the track immediately. This moment showcased his extensive career, having experienced numerous podiums, and his extraordinary mental strength.

Furthermore, he delivered a performance that showed no signs of fatigue during his stint, setting lap times even faster than before and reigniting the team's momentum. Grégory's tenacious ride greatly inspired Romain and Christoffer, who continued to race with intense focus. Coupled with the swift recovery work by the mechanics, I believe this 3rd place podium is the result of everyone on the team fighting until the very end without giving up. Moreover, consistently securing intermediate points at the 8-hour and 16-hour marks throughout the race was a significant gain for the championship battle.

I sincerely thank all the fans who supported us and all our partners who have backed us. This race has once again proven that our unwavering spirit is our greatest strength.
We will continue to strive for even greater heights.