Portugal’s Manuel Espírito Santo moved up to LMP2 after a successful season in LMP3 with COOL Racing. The 22-year-old took his first ELMS class victory with the Swiss team 12-months ago at his home circuit in Portimão and is now looking for a good end to his debut LMP2 season with CLX Motorsport.
The LMP2 category this year has been one of the most competitive in the history of the ELMS, but Espírito Santo has stepped up to the mark with some solid performance and a podium finish in the 4 Hours of Le Castellet in May.
He now looks forward to finishing the 2025 season on a high note and will, once again, team up with Brazil’s Enzo Fittipaldi in the no47 CLX Motorsport Oreca 07-Gibson.
Q: LMP2 has been highly competitive this year for your debut season in the category.What are the positives you have taken from the season so far?
Manuel Espírito Santo: “My debut LMP2 season has been really enjoyable. So far, I've really enjoyed working with my team, with my teammates. The car is really nice to drive, and it's been really competitive with some really top drivers in the category this season.
“The positives I've taken away so far is that I'm feeling quite comfortable in the car, each time I'm improving, I feel like I'm getting a bit more comfortable in the car, learning some new things, and so far, I've really enjoyed it. So hopefully we'll keep enjoying it.”
Q: The season finale is at your home track in Portugal.You won the LMP3 category last year from pole position with your current team.How did it feel to win at home?
MES: "So last season in the LMP3 category, we had a really good race with the pole position and the win in my home track in Portimão. It was really special and I think it's the best track to have won during the whole season.
“The race was a really enjoyable race. We had some tough moments, but fortunately, at the end, we came out as the winners.It was a really special feeling with all my family and friends they're watching. Being able to do it in my home country was quite special.”
Q: What are the main differences between the LMP3 car you raced last season compared to the Oreca-Gibson you are racing this year?
MES: “I haven't felt too many differences. Obviously, everything's a bit faster, but in terms of the technique used for driving, I feel like it's quite similar; the LMP2 just feels like a really fast LMP3.
“I think LMP3 is a really good school to prepare you for the move to LMP2 and I think it's quite important. I feel for drivers coming from LMP3 to LMP2, it will feel quite a natural step.
“Obviously, there are some things that you need to adjust, especially in high speed, and some techniques that need refining. But so far, I've really enjoyed it. I've really enjoyed the transition.
“It was pretty challenging at first, but I feel like I’ve done a good job with the transition, and with a lot of support from my team who were helping me from the first tests to feel as comfortable and learn as much as possible.”
Q: What are your thoughts on the circuit at Portimão, and do you have a favourite corner or corners?
MES: “I'm really happy to have Portimão on the calendar. We have a really great season with some really great tracks, but, for me, Portimão stands out. Not only for being my home track, but it's also really particular. It's got a lot of elevation, we've got a lot of blind corners, fast corners and slow corners. I feel like it's a really enjoyable track that is quite tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's really, really enjoyable.
“I would say I like almost every corner, but the corners that stands out for me is Turn Seven and Eight and Turn 10 with the blind, which is really cool; you come up the hill into the blind braking.The last corner is a really cool feeling in an LMP2, you go really fast over the crest and then into the compression.”
Q: Looking at the opposition you will be facing in Portimão, what would you consider to be a good result to conclude your first season in LMP2 in the ELMS?
MES: “It's quite hard to tell what would be a good result. Obviously, we're looking for the podium and the win, that's the target, but the competition has been really strong this whole season.
“I feel like me, my teammate and a whole team, we've done quite a good job. We've always been quite competitive in every race weekend. However, some races haven't fallen our way. I'm looking forward to having a clean weekend, doing the best I can and working hard to try and get good results in this last race of the season.”
