Danish up-and-comer Christian Olsen is set to embark on his inaugural sportscar racing campaign this year in the ELMS. And while most fans of ACO-sanctioned racing will be unfamiliar with him ahead of the season opener this weekend, he has real potential to become a familiar face quickly, especially with the team he has around him.
The 21-year-old has signed with Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing, which whom he will race in the highly-competitive LMP3 class with Alex Kapadia and Colin Noble this year. Prior to his move, Olsen, who is back after a three-year gap in his career after karting, earned his stripes racing in historic F3, and is highly motivated, looking to take those skills and use them to climb the endurance racing ladder.
“I started racing karts in 2009, I was living in Germany. And I did well at that, driving in various championships regionally, in a Top Kart chassis,” said the Composite World-backed driver. “Then I went on to race in national championships and European races. In my last year, I raced a KF2 in Germany, and I sort of went on hiatus, and focused on school and my personal development. I put racing to the side, as I feel that’s important.
“I don’t want to be someone who doesn’t have a Plan B if I didn’t make it. So for three years, I built up a personal network, studied hard, and got myself into a position where my entire life isn’t just about racing.
“Then I started up again, I got involved in racing historic F3s with my dad, and it came naturally, and I found speed quickly. Then when I won races during the Oldtimer GP at the Nurburgring, I started to feel confident that I could give racing a proper go again.
You learn a lot about car control, and general technique in historic racing
“You learn a lot about car control, and general technique in historic racing. That’s provided me with a good basis for trying prototypes.”
Endurance racing has always been the aim and ambition for Olsen. While he’s realistic about his level of expectations at this stage, he’s had his sights set on prototype and GT racing, over single-seaters, and like many, sees the increase in opportunity in this area of the sport as the primary reason for his focus.
LMP3 in particular he feels has a real appeal. It’s mostly cost-effective and provides a good platform to get to grips in prototype racing without having to fund a full LMP2 programme, in a far most sophisticated car, likely up against world-class teams and drivers.
“Every driver wants to do Le Mans, and that’s on the list, as well as driving in IMSA, those are all in my goals. But that will come later.
“I want to do LMP3 for a few years, then maybe step into LMP2 and eventually get paid to drive.
“The competition in LMP2 is at a different level right now, because of money, and the amount of drives available. So LMP3 is the right place, it’s a lower step on the ladder that wasn’t really there before. I considered GT racing, but after looking at it for a long time, and seeking advice. I thought LMP3 was the right move.”
Prior to signing with Ecurie Ecosse, Olsen tested both the Ligier JS P3 and Norma M30. Interestingly, he’s one of very few drivers who have experience in both, Norma M30s only just beginning to pop up across Europe in significant numbers after a handful of customer teams found success with them in 2017.
For him, the M30 was a far harder car to drive, and therefore not so ideal for someone starting out.
“I’ve tested both, and the JS P3 is a very friendly car to drive, it tells you what it’s doing almost before it does it. It does all the things I expect. It’s predictable, it doesn’t just throw me into a wall.
“When I tested the Norma in December at Barcelona, I knew quickly that the Ligier is an easier car to drive, it’s more friendly. There are definitely advantages to the Norma, it’s a faster car, but because it’s tougher to drive, I feel that it won’t be as much of an advantage with my level of experience.
When I tested the Norma in December at Barcelona, I knew quickly that the Ligier is an easier car to drive
“I’d rather be able to consistently lap at a good pace with a JS P3, rather than be able to ring out the fastest lap time of the weekend in the Norma, and only be able to get to that level when I push myself to the absolute limit.”
His running was limited at the ELMS Prologue earlier this week, due to the adverse weather conditions, and the car undergoing a full engine change, though it was still important, as a chance for him to get used to working with his new team.
“It’s a very new experience. It’s been good getting to know the team, I really like everyone, and getting closer knit will take time. Colin and Alex have been great as teammates, they’re strong, and provide me with a good benchmark. They’re happy to help me progress too, I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot working with them this year.
“As I’m a bronze, and I feel confident I can get up to speed quick, this line-up should be strong, I think we’re maximising the opportunity we have with this trio.
“And in terms of driving, I’m still getting used to the car, and slowly learning where the limits are. I haven’t done much dry running, but I’m confident that it won’t take long for me to get to where I want to be this weekend, when the weather is supposed to improve.”
