European Le Mans Series Shines at Silverstone, Setting Up Thrilling Finale
Silverstone, UK – The European Le Mans Series (ELMS) returned to the UK for the first time since 2019, captivating tens of thousands of motorsport fans despite a challenging weather forecast. The weekend culminated in a dramatic four-hour race extended to nearly five hours due to multiple red flags and a rainstorm.
Attendance and Event Highlights
The event claimed a contentious estimated attendance of 110,000, a figure scrutinized by many observers as excessively inflated, with more credible estimates suggesting a turnout of 20,000 to 40,000. The event was deemed a success for British sportscar fans, with industry stakeholders present, and an impressive display of family-friendly activities, including a charity run that attracted over 750 participants.
On-Track Action
The race itself was characterized by aggressive driving and multiple incidents, leading to several penalties. It featured significant lead changes, particularly in the LMP2 class, where IDEC Sport secured a crucial victory, closing the points gap in the championship standings. Following the race, Daniel Juncadella of the #18 IDEC Sport team remarked on their unexpected success, stating, “It’s cool because we removed the hopes of a title out of our minds.”
LMP2 Race Overview
Oliver Gray, Esteban Masson, and Charles Milesi from VDS Panis Racing faced a challenging outing, reducing their championship lead to just six points. The #43 Inter Europol team remains a factor, now only seven points adrift after another second-place finish.
Pro/Am and GT3 Highlights
In the LMP2 Pro/Am category, Kriton Lentoudis, Olli Caldwell, and Alex Quinn captured their second win of the season. Quinn’s performance, particularly during the adverse conditions, was pivotal. He noted, “It was a race of survival, and we came out on top.”
In GT3, Richard Mille AF Corse claimed victory following a post-race penalty for GR Racing, who had led before the race was called. This outcome spotlighted female talent in motorsport, as Lilou Wadoux secured her second win of the year for the AF Corse team.
LMP3 Championship Outcomes
In LMP3, R-ace GP secured a title for Duqueine, while CLX Motorsport’s #17 crew clinched the ELMS crown with another commanding performance, marking Ligier’s maiden title with the JS P325. The trio of Paul Lanchere, Adrien Closmenil, and Theodor Jensen demonstrated consistency throughout the season, with Jensen confirming aspirations to progress to LMP2.
Looking Ahead
The season will conclude at Portimão, where championship battles loom across all classes. Teams remain focused, with high stakes for drivers in contention for the titles as the 2025 season draws to a close.
