After a six-year dry spell, ACO-class endurance racing has finally returned to the UK! Last weekend, the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) descended on Silverstone, and despite the absence of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the event was a welcome sight for British fans. Even with the weather threatening to play a spoiler—so much so that the start had to be moved up an hour to dodge a heavy downpour—the circuit was absolutely buzzing.
The start of the race was nothing short of hectic. Lap one saw incidents all over the place, forcing the safety car to make its first appearance almost immediately. This was just the beginning of a chaotic day. Within the first half of the race, we were treated to two red flags. The first was for the Iron Lynx Mercedes GT3, which went head-on into the barrier on the start-finish straight. The second came after a three-car incident on the Hanger Straight, resulting in hard contact into the armco for the Proton Competition LMP2 car.
As always, we took the chance to walk around the track and get a different perspective on the action. The biggest takeaway was the sheer pace of the LMP2s through the classic corners of Copse, Maggots, and Becketts. Their speed was breathtaking, leaving the LMP3 cars in their wake, which themselves didn’t seem much quicker than the LMGT3s.
We were at the Loop complex when the first signs of rain started to appear. It was a classic Silverstone trick, sprinkling in different places and playing with the teams’ strategies before the full-on deluge finally hit. With just 90 minutes to go, the heavens opened, and the race was turned completely on its head. Some teams gambled on staying out on slicks, trying to outlast the rain and stick to their strategy. Others made the smart call to pit for wets.
From the grandstands, it provided a thrilling finish as we watched IDEC Genesis Magma Racing play their cards perfectly to take the overall win. It was a chaotic, dramatic, and ultimately satisfying return for endurance racing to the UK.
Don’t forget to check out the image gallery below and also the trackside video.
Gallery
Race Results: Here
Disclaimer: We are not associated with the ACO, ELME, European Le Mans Series, any teams taking part or any sponsors of the event.
