The winner of the 100th Anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans James Calado will join the ELMS grid for the first time since 2015. The Ferrari Hypercar driver will race in the 4 Hours of Le Castellet for Kessel Racing, joining Takeshi Kimura and Ben Tuck in the no57 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 LMGT3, replacing Daniel Serra for this race as the Brazilian is racing back in his home country this weekend.
Calado, who is also the 2017 FIA World Endurance GT Champion, is one of three Ferrari 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winners racing this weekend in Le Castellet.2024 winner and former ELMS Champions Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen are also on this grid. Molina is racing for Kessel Racing in the no74 Ferrari and Nielsen is racing for AF Corse in LMP2 Pro/Am alongside 4 Hours of Barcelona overall winners Francois Perrodo and Matthieu Vaxiviere.
Why has James Calado returned to the ELMS this weekend? “Daniel (Serra) has got a stock car race in Brazil," he said. "I'm filling his boots this weekend, and I'll try and be as fast as he as he is, because we know, he is super quick.It's nice to be back in the ELMS after 10 years and it's a different atmosphere. Being back in a GT is a bit strange, but it's good fun.”
When asked what it was like being back at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Calado answered, “It's nice. The track with the chicane makes it makes a bit different. It might help overtaking a little bit, because it's hard to overtake here. But it's good fun.”
As one of three Ferrari 24 Hours of Le Mans overall winners racing in the ELMS this weekend, what does that feel like? “We’ve got to try and perform now and not show ourselves up. So, no pressure then!” Calado smiled.
