The return to Silverstone by the ELMS has got everyone looking forward to the challenge of competing on one of the most technical and demanding circuits anywhere in the world. For the British drivers and teams, it is the opportunity to race not just in front of friends and family, but also in front of the enthusiastic British fans.
The eight strong LMP2 Pro/Am category features two British teams – United Autosports and Nielsen Racing – and three British drivers. Two of them, Olli Caldwell and Alex Quinn, head to Silverstone as championship leaders after winning in Spa-Francorchamps with their Greek teammate Kriton Lentoudis for Algarve Pro Racing.
The other driver is Oliver Jarvis, 2022 IMSA Sportscar DPi Champion, 2007 Macau GP Formula 3 winner and multiple LMP1 and LMP2 podium finisher at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jarvis is racing in the no21 United Autosports Oreca-Gibson alongside Brazilian Daniel Schneider and Japan’s Marino Sato.
We spoke to Alex Quinn and Oliver Jarvis about the ELMS return to Silverstone and their thoughts on the challenge ahead.
“I think it's fantastic news that ELMS is back at Silverstone after six years,’ said Oliver Jarvis. “It's such a great track and great venue that it really has been missed. Also, because it's the home race for so many teams and drivers, it's nice for us all to be able to have family and friends to come along and watch. I think going to be a real spectacle.”
“I’m really happy to be racing in the ELMS at Silverstone,” Alex Quinn said. “I'm extra happy because I've actually not raced there for seven years.Everyone thinks I'm a local and I'm an expert, but I'm not. I have no idea. I've only driven the GP track once in testing. So, it's going to be a new experience.”
What is it going to be like to race on the famous full circuit at Silverstone? “Silverstone is one of those iconic tracks that every driver wants to drive at and to race, and it really lives up to the hype,” said Jarvis. “It's not just a great venue, but the circuit itself is one of those really enjoyable tracks. You've got some really fast flowing corners, like Maggots and Becketts, that are just such a joy to drive in a high downforce car, like an LMP2 car.
“I also think that the nature of the circuit will mean that overtaking is possible. It is slightly wider than some of the circuits we've raced on this year, and for that reason, I think it should also provide a really good, entertaining race for the fans.”
Alex Quinn added, “We were testing a few weeks ago, and it was very exciting. With this car, it's an awesome track, at high speed, you really feel the downforce, so nice.It’s a big track as well, so overtaking should be pretty good. I think it's going to be good.”
“Obviously, Maggots and Becketts is fantastic, but I quite like Stowe and the one after that, because in the P2 car it's just quickly down two gears and turning in. It's really, really quick. I like that one a lot.”
The ELMS hasn’t been to Silverstone since 2019 and Oliver Jarvis was racing in that meeting but in the FIA World Endurance Championship race in a Ginetta LMP1 car but has he raced at Silverstone since then? “As a British driver, it's strange, because people call it my home race, but I very rarely race in the UK these days. It's great to be back there.
“The last time was with Team LNT and LMP1 in the WEC in 2019 and I have some really good memories because I had two great co drivers in Mike Simpson and Guy Smith, so that was a lot of fun. The car itself had so much potential; Ginetta had done an incredible job. I remember being really shocked by how good the car was and how much downforce it had, and the power.
“Unfortunately, at the time, the team had done very little testing, the car was at the start of its development phase, so we didn't show it true potential. It really shocked me just how good that car and it was such a shame that a team didn't pick it up and go on to run it in in the wet, because it would have been and without a doubt, a really competitive package. I am pretty sure that is the last time I raced in Silverstone.”
So, what about Alex Quinn? He admits he has never raced on the full Silverstone track only on the shorter National circuit. “The last time I was at Silverstone was seven years ago when I raced in British Formula 4, but only on the national track as part of the British Touring Car package. So, it's going to be nice to be able to drive it in a proper car on a proper track.”
The Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone is Round 5 of the 2025 European Le Mans Series and will take place on the 12-14 September.
