Teams and drivers hoping to savour sunshine and blue skies at the second round of the European Le Mans Series in Le Castellet were left disappointed as inclement weather dominated the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. IDEC Sport triumphed at their home race on their 10th anniversary as a team, creating history in the process.
Showers, strategy and safety cars
As the cars lined up on the grid, it was clear that weather was going to play a major role in the outcome of the race. The track was officially declared wet, with teams facing a key decision about whether to start on slick tyres or wets. The rain intensified during the formation lap, causing multiple spins and off-track moments before the green flag had even flown.
With the track conditions extremely treacherous, the chaos continued in the opening phase of the race. Multiple yellow flags and safety car periods were the result. Emerging just about unscathed from the dramatic first stint was the #18 IDEC Sport crew of Jamie Chadwick, Daniel Juncadella and Mathys Jaubert.
Cleverly timed pit stops allowed the #18 Oreca 07, entered in partnership with future works Hyundai/Genesis WEC entry Genesis Magma Racing, to hold a decisive advantage on the rest of the field, despite the presence of the #43 Inter Europol Competition, #27 Nielsen Racing and #10 Vector Sport entries.
With Juncadella completing an outstanding middle stint, young Frenchman Mathys Jaubert was strapped in for the final couple of hours. Jaubert kept a cool head to bring the car home in front, ahead of the surprise second-placed car, the #27 Nielsen Racing LMP2 Pro-Am entry.
Historic victory for Jamie Chadwick
After taking the class win but not the overall victory last time out in Barcelona, Jamie Chadwick and the #18 IDEC Sport crew made history in Le Castellet, becoming the first female driver to take overall victory in the European Le Mans Series and indeed any series organised by rulemakers the Automobil Club de l’Ouest.
Second place and the win in LMP2 Pro-Am went to the #27 Nielsen Racing crew of James Allen, Tony Wells and Sergio Sette Camara. In a particularly impressive opening stint by Wells, the bronze-rated driver rose from 19th on the grid to the lead after the team opted to start on wet tyres.
PJ Hyett, Louis Delétraz and Dane Cameron secured third position in the #99 AO by TF Oreca, another LMP2 Pro-Am entry, after an excellent closing stint by Delétraz.
CLX Motorsport make it two out of two
CLX Motorsport celebrated the win in the LMP3 category for the second successive race. Adrien Closmenil, Paul Lanchère and Theodor Jensen overcame the difficult conditions to convert their class pole into a class win, some 25 seconds ahead of the second-placed #68 M Racing crew.
Ferrari edge out Mercedes in LMGT3
The LMGT3 saw yet another final-lap thriller in Le Castellet, as Lilou Wadoux in the #50 Richard Mille AF Corse Ferrari held the #63 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG of Fabian Schiller at bay. The French driver benefited from a clever pit strategy to emerge from the final stops in the lead and cross the chequered flag in first, despite Schiller’s best efforts. The final podium spot went to the #86 GR Racing Ferrari.
The next round of the ELMS is the 4 Hours of Imola on 6 July, but the highlight of the season is just around the corner with numerous ELMS teams taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 14 June. All the results from the 4 Hours of Le Castellet are available here.
Title image © ELM press material (Photo Copyright 2025 – FocusPackMedia – Marcel Wulf) | Image 2 © ELM press material (Photo Copyright 2025 – FocusPackMedia – Jan Patrick Wagner) | Image 3 © ELMS press material (Photo Copyright 2025 – FocusPackMedia – Marcel Wulf)