Lorenzo Fluxa made a dramatic entrance to the European Le Mans Series, taking victory at the 2024 4 hours of Barcelona alongside his COOL Racing teammates Malthe Jakobsen and Ritimo Miyata and finishing the season in Portugal by winning again to finish third in the LMP2 standings at the end of his debut season.
The 20-year-old from Palma de Mallorca in the beautiful Balearic Islands will return in 2025, racing alongside Matthias Kaiser and Theo Pourchaire for 2023 ELMS LMP2 and reigning Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 Team Champions Algrave Pro Racing.
Lorenzo started his racing career in karts before moving to Formula 4 in 2020 and then to Formula Regional.The Spanish driver switched to endurance racing in 2024, competing in the ELMS and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He now has set his sights on taking the prestigious ELMS LMP2 title with Algarve Pro Racing.
Q: In your first season in the ELMS you won two races, the first at home in Spain and the last in Portugal.As a driver how would you rate your performance in the 2024 ELMS season?
Lorenzo Fluxa: “I would rate my performance in the 2024 European Le Mans Series as satisfactory. It was my first year in endurance sportscar racing, and I feel I adapted quite well to the new demands and style of racing.
“I was a Silver-graded driver and it was a positive year because I learnt a lot, took big steps forward and came to understand the key aspects of endurance competition.
“We all know what we’re capable of as drivers and 2025 will be about showing what I can do against the top-level drivers in the championship, especially as I am now a Gold.”
Q: You are also a gold ranked driver for the first time. How has your role changed from last season when you were the silver ranked driver?
LF: “My role as a Gold-rated driver is extremely different. Last year, I was the rookie and the ‘amateur’ in the team and I went into every weekend with the aim of learning from more experienced Golds, but I’m now considered the Pro in the line-up.
“I’ll be demanding more from myself and working with the whole team to help push it forward, while also getting the best from my Silver teammate, Matthias (Kaiser).”
Q: The LMP2 category in the ELMS is very competitive with 13 cars in the top flight with some best teams and drivers in endurance racing.As a driver is this an environment you love to compete in and test yourself against the best?
LF: “For a driver like me, there’s nothing better than competing against the best in the world and that’s why I love the ELMS so much. The series provides opportunities to take on the most talented racers from different generations and categories, and that really pushes you to perform at a higher level, raising the bar further in what is always a very competitive, closely-fought championship.”
Q: The first race of the season will be at home in Spain at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.Is it an advantage to start the season in front of the Spanish fans and your friends and family?
LF: “I don’t know if racing at home in Spain is an advantage, but it certainly gives me a lot of happiness and motivation. I feel very comfortable at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and starting the season there with family and friends by my side makes me happy.
“In fact, it was incredible to see so many people attend last year’s 4 Hours of Barcelona and I hope the crowds are as large this time around. It’s extremely exciting!”
Q: What is your favourite corner, or corners, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya?
LF: “It’s tough to pick a favourite corner at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, but I enjoy Turn 3 because it’s flat in qualifying, and the final sector of the lap has come alive since they revised the layout two years ago. Without the awkward little chicane, it’s amazing!
“The penultimate turn is flat-out and the last corner requires only a small lift, so it’s a real pleasure to drive on a new-tyre, low-fuel run.”
Q: You won in Barcelona on your ELMS debut last year.When you look at the ELMS grid this year, what would be a good result for your first race with Algarve Pro Racing?
LF: “Everybody at Algarve Pro Racing agrees that we are going to Barcelona to win. We have great respect for the competition and know it isn’t going to be easy because the grid is at least as strong as it was last year, but we have to aim for the top step of the podium.
“Anything can happen over the course of four hours and we will need to have an open mind when it comes to strategy, but we know we have the package; the car is really fast and we’re a strong driver line-up that will give our absolutely best.”
