Panis Racing has launched its 2025 ELMS programme today by outlining its team structure and revealing the six drivers that will compete in LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am with the French team in 2025.
For the new season the team has strengthened its partnership with Marc van der Straten’s VDS organisation, in addition to reaffirming its relationship with Xavier Combet’s TDS Racing team, which provides operational support.
Together the team has become VDS Panis Racing for the new year, and will run a single car (#48) in the ELMS’ LMP2 class under that banner, and a second car (#29) under the TDS Racing name in LMP2 Pro/Am.
“The strengthened partnership with VDS grants us access to invaluable additional resources, allowing us to enhance our competitiveness in endurance racing,” Olivier Panis said.
“My immense gratitude towards my friend Marc van der Straten is simply beyond wordsI also want to express my appreciation to ELF for their unwavering support over the past ten years, as well as to our other partners who are once again joining us for this new season.
“Our philosophy is built on three fundamental pillars: passing on knowledge to young talents, refining the skills of professional drivers, and ensuring technical excellence, particularly through the expertise of two renowned engineers, Jacques Morello and Florent Gouin.”
The team’s #48 ORECA in the top class will be driven by Alpine Hypercar ace Charles Milesi, TGR Driver Challenge racer Esteban Masson and up and coming British driver Oliver Gray.
The second entry, which will run with #29, will see Rodrigo Sales, Mathias Beche and Clement Novalak team up.
Sales and Beche raced with Richard Mille by TDS in 2024 and continue their collaboration, while Novalak, like Gray, joins the team after racing with Inter Europol Competition last season.
“In 2025, we enthusiastically embark on our second year alongside Olivier—a continuity that comes with a major official addition: Marc van der Straten joining our team.
On a personal level, I am both honored and thrilled to represent his colors in LMP2,” said Xavier Combet, the team principal.
“This collaboration presents us with an incredible opportunity to strengthen our structure and improve our technical resources—an essential asset in such a demanding field as endurance racing.
We are extremely grateful for the trust he has placed in us, and we will do everything we can to make the ‘Feline’ colours shine.
“The technical expertise of TDS Racing, combined with Olivier’s unwavering support, is a real advantage in achieving our ambitions.”
