European Le Mans Series racing made a long-awaited return to the UK this weekend, and British fans responded in force. For the first time since 2019, Silverstone hosted ELMS action — and over 110,000 spectators poured through the gates across the three-day event, making it the best-attended round of the 2025 season.
The turnout alone has likely secured Silverstone’s place on the calendar moving forward — a huge win for UK endurance racing fans who have waited years for its return.
But it wasn’t just about numbers — the event delivered on every front.
A Festival Atmosphere On and Off Track
Organisers stepped things up with an expanded fan zone, historic machinery, and community engagement. A standout moment came with a stunning demo run from the legendary Jaguar XJR-8, while a charity fun run supporting Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 drew more than 750 participants.
It felt less like a race weekend and more like a full-blown motorsport festival.
Weather Chaos Turns 4 Hours into 5
If the fans came for racing, they certainly got their money’s worth — just not in the way anyone expected.
Torrential rain and heavy storms battered the circuit, leading to multiple incidents and three red flags. The scheduled four-hour race stretched beyond five hours, with conditions deteriorating to the point where visibility became a serious concern.
Ultimately, race control made the call to end proceedings eight minutes early, as worsening weather made safe racing impossible.
High Drama Across the Classes
Despite the chaos, the on-track action remained fiercely competitive.
LMP2: The #18 IDEC Sport entry took overall victory, putting themselves firmly back in the championship fight. It also marked a special moment for Jamie Chadwick, who claimed a home victory on British soil.
LMP2 Pro/Am: The #20 Algarve Pro Racing car, driven by Olli Caldwell and Alex Quinn, secured class honours — adding to a strong British presence on the podium.
LMP3: The #17 CLX Motorsport machine continued its dominant run, taking victory and clinching both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships with one round still to go.
LMGT3: A standout drive from the #50 Richard Mille AF Corse crew saw them charge from P10 on the grid to victory in class.
Momentum Building Toward the Finale
Silverstone delivered everything — huge crowds, dramatic racing, unpredictable weather, and standout performances across the board.
More importantly, it proved something bigger: ELMS has a strong and growing audience in the UK.
With momentum now building, all eyes turn to the season finale in Portimão, where championship battles are set to come to a head.
And if this weekend was anything to go by, Silverstone has more than earned its place on the ELMS calendar for years to come.
