The world of endurance racing is captivating everyone, especially in the past two years. The World Endurance Championship has seen double the following compared to before, and the interest from the drivers themselves has significantly increased. One of the championships that has always enchanted with its action is the European Le Mans Series, and the 2024 edition is turning out to be one of the most exciting yet. Here's everything you need to know.
More than one hundred million people tuned in to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, with streams from all over the world and an almost uncountable number of spectators trackside. Records are being broken race after race, with an exponential growth that almost seems to bring the golden age of endurance racing back to life, as it’s becoming hugely popular again. With the arrival of many manufacturers in the WEC, this was somewhat expected. However, what's surprising is how this interest has spread to all branches of closed-wheel racing, leading many drivers to make their debut here, embracing a wealth of new opportunities.
What exactly is the European Le Mans Series?
The ELMS is a European endurance racing championship, featuring four hours long races, affiliated with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In fact, each season a select number of participants get the opportunity to race in the ultimate endurance event on the Circuit de la Sarthe. Moreover, it allows both professional drivers, who have already competed in world championships, and gentlemen ones to race, giving them a chance to test themselves in a competitive grid. Young drivers coming from feeder series or formula categories are also well-represented this year, with many promising talents from open-wheel championships like Formula 2 or Formula 3: from Felipe Drugovich, racing with Vector Sport, to Arthur Leclerc, driving the LMP2 car for Panis Racing, and Jonny Edgar, who shares the cockpit with experienced drivers Robert Kubica and Louis Deletraz. Inter Europol Competition boasts Oliver Gray and Clement Novalak, while Lorenzo Fluxa is racing with Malthe Jakobsen and Ritomo Miyata in Cool Racing's colors, just like Frederik Vesti.
The mixed participation is further facilitated by the various classes in the championship and the different types of cars used, totaling four: LMP2, LMP2 Pro Am, LMP3, and LMGT3. As with any respectable endurance championship, the multi-class factor is crucial, as it not only guarantees plenty of action but also ensures a seat for everyone. In both LMP2 classes, identical cars are used by all, built by Dallara, Ligier Automotive, Oreca, or Riley Tech/Multimatic. The engines are provided by Gibson, a V8 capable of delivering up to 600 horsepower, while the electronics come from Cosworth Electronics. In LMP3, the cars are also identical, this time supplied by Ligier, Duqueine Engineering, Ginetta, or Adess, with Oreca engines. These are still prototypes but with simpler mechanical configurations and more accessible technology, as well as lower overall costs. In GT3, all homologated Gran Turismo cars accepted by ACO/FIA are allowed, with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, and Lamborghini represented on the grid.
The first act of the 2024 season took place at the Circuit de Barcelona, where Cool Racing team, with Fluxa, Jakobsen, and Miyata, took a remarkable win. At Le Castellet, it was Sebastian Alvarez, Vladislav Lomko, and Tom Dillmann of Inter Europol Competition who claimed the top spot. This trio currently leads the championship standings with 45 points and is ready to defend their position in the second half of the season. After the Imola round, won after a lengthy process of penalties and appeals by Arthur Leclerc, Charles Milesi, and Manuel Maldonado (second in the standings with 40 points), the championship is now at its midpoint, with only three races left before the season's end. The 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will take place next weekend, from August 23 to 25, and anticipation is already high as the Belgian track is one of the most challenging and spectacular on the calendar. After the fourth round at Spa, the entire paddock will move to the hills of Tuscany for the Mugello Circuit, a new addition to this year’s calendar, for the weekend of September 27-29, before concluding the season in Portimao on October 19.
In LMP3, the championship leaders are Matthew Bell and Adam Ali of Eurointernational, class winners at Imola, followed by RLR M Sport and Team Virage's No. 8 car, driven by Gillian Henrion, Julien Gerbi, and Bernardo Pinheiro. Rodrigo Sales, Mathias Beche, and Grégoire Saucy (Richard Mille by TDS) lead the LMP2 Pro Am standings, with the AF Corse Oreca just three points behind. In GT3, the most convincing trio so far has been Iron Lynx's Andrea Caldarelli, Hiroshi Hamaguchi, and Axcil Jefferies, who, despite not having won a race yet, are still leading the standings. Competing with them are the Racing Spirit of Leman's Aston Martin and the Iron Dames' Porsche. The Spa-Francorchamps round is therefore shaping up to be very interesting: 128 drivers will take to the track, with 43 cars entered in one of the historic rounds of the European Le Mans Series, and it’s all to play for. The four-hour race will start at 11:30 on Sunday, August 25, and can be followed on the championship's YouTube channel.
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