Once again the LMP2 and LMP2 Pro/Am ranks in the ELMS are stellar, with an eclectic mix of proven stars, hungry up-and-comers and talented amateurs across the 22 cars and two categories.
Of the five drivers from two outfits that won the 2023 titles, Algarve Pro Racing and AF Corse, just three return to the same cars for this season. Alex Lynn is back for APR to lead the line-up in its #25 Pro ORECA and Francois Perrodo is again joined by Matthieu Vaxiviere in the Pro/Am-entered #83 07 from AF.
Despite there being a fleet of rookies up and down the order, Lynn told DSC that he doesn’t expect life to be any easier this time around, especially with drivers like Frederik Vesti, Arthur Leclerc and Felipe Drugovich joining the class from F2.
“There’s no doubt that coming into 2024 the competition has levelled up, that’s the only way to put it,” he said. “There are serious line-ups and serious teams, and they’ve brought the heavy metal with them. But that also means there are more chances to get between cars and score points when title rivals have a bad day.
“Last year was a lot of hard work, but we were always quick. After being punted off here at the start of the season we were never off the podium after that.”
After spending last year competing with Ganassi development driver Kyffin Simpson, whom he was tasked with mentoring, and James Allen, he returns to Algarve Pro to race alongside former WEC LMP2 drivers Mattias Kaiser and Olli Caldwell (from Vector Sport and Alpine respectively).
It’s a new team dynamic, but after the Prologue test in Barcelona earlier this week and an off-season test at the same venue beforehand, he feels confident that the #25’s late-season form last year can continue immediately in 2024.
“We’ve had a positive start, the Prologue was good. Right now we already feel pretty much up to speed. Everyone knows the car inside out obviously, but nobody knows an ORECA like our technical director David Leach does.
“There is a difference with the cars going back to full, but it doesn’t feel too different. The lap times are a bit quicker and you can get past cars easier on the straights, but ultimately there isn’t too much to learn.”
For Lynn, while he is no longer tasked with developing a driver within the team like he was last year with Simpson, his role and objectives haven’t changed too much. He leads the line-up and is using the track time to keep him sharp between his FIA WEC races with Cadillac Racing in Hypercar.
“So last year I was technically employed by Ganassi to be here, but this time I am back separately. Stuart, for his sins, has decided to employ me personally, so he’s my boss full-time now on these weekends, whereas Mike Hull technically was before.
“But my role is the same. I’d like to think I offer more than just driving the car these days. After so many years in sportscars and at the ripe old age of 30 I have a good balance of experience and speed. It helps me relay how the car feels and what is achievable.”
This season’s schedule is especially beneficial in that regard as the first four races of the ELMS are held the weekend before WEC meetings.
“I think it’s vital and it’s a big part of the appeal of the ELMS last year,” he explained. “I was lucky enough to win it last year, but it’s also important for me beyond winning trophies. The track time is so good, that you get a lot of mileage each weekend. And to get a result you need to be on top form, I’m driving as hard as I do in the Cadillac.”
In the LMP2 Pro/Am ranks, AF Corse’s Francois Perrodo is looking to go back-to-back in the ELMS and secure his sixth major sportscar racing title.
Perrodo spent the off-season competing in the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time. While he came away without a title to place on his CV, the experience provided him with valuable track time aboard an ORECA 07 in the winter, which he said was more enjoyable than a test programme.
“For me, it was a discovery because I hadn’t driven Sepang or Abu Dhabi. We had good races, with podiums and some bad ones,” he told DSC. “So the title didn’t happen, but overall I enjoyed it. It’s a really nice championship, well organised and it felt like a home away from home.
“It was definitely more fun than testing. During those weekends it’s fast and you don’t get time to work on technique, but I prefer doing that.”
The 2023 Pro-Am championship was hotly contested and came down to the final race, with Perrodo and Vaxiviere (along with part-time driver Ben Barnicoat) storming to the championship win in a rain-soaked finale as the longtime points leaders at Racing Team Turkey’s challenge faltered.
The eight-car entry for this season has a fresh look to it, with neither COOL Racing nor Racing Team Turkey returning to challenge for the title.
Nevertheless, there is still a strong crop of Bronze-rated drivers all eager to snatch the crown from Perrodo, including former ELMS champion John Falb at Nielsen Racing and the rapidly improving Giorgio Roda at Proton.
“Last year was so competitive, with that Racing Team Turkey line-up featuring Salih and COOL Racing who came on strong late in the year like we did. Winning the title in the doubleheader was so special, it was one of my best seasons.
“But it’s going to be hard to repeat. Amongst the eight this year there are five I think are really strong, and the others aren’t bad either. There are some Bronze drivers who have less experience, but if there’s a safety car after their double stint it’s game on.”
Beyond the fight for the titles, both Lynn and Perrodo were keen to discuss the race at Mugello in September. The 5.2-km Tuscany circuit is new to the championship, and a venue that they can’t wait to tackle in a full-power ORECA.
For Perrodo, the ELMS race won’t be the first time he’s competed at the circuit, or even his first time racing there in a prototype. Recently he took part in a historic event in his newly-acquired R8 LMP1.
“It’s an amazing track,” he exclaimed. “I raced there in my first year of racing in VdeV in a Porsche GT back in 2013. But this time it’s going to be different.
“However, I was actually there recently driving in Endurance Racing Legends with a 2002 Audi R8 LMP1. It’s a gorgeous circuit, a great setting, and in an LMP2 it’s going to be so challenging. Traffic will be so hard in Sector 2 but that’s what makes it special.
“I spoke with (AO by TF driver) Louis Deletraz who tested there last week and he said the lap times are impressive in an ORECA.”
As for the R8, the former test car which he bought recently, he also described it as “impressive”.
“I bought it six months ago and I’ve always loved it,” he continued. “It reminds me of my youth. Its V8 engine is small but the car is so ahead of its time, it’s 640 horsepower for 900 kilos.
“We were driving with commercial Michelins so the grip wasn’t there, but it’s a pleasure to drive. There’s no turbo lag, it’s super fast down the straights.”
Lynn on the other hand, has no racing experience at Mugello. He did however test there during his junior single-seater days and told DSC it left a lasting impression.
“I ran the PREMA Formula 3 car there a long time ago and it’s a top three track of all time for me.
“It’s in Florence, a beautiful part of the world, and the track itself has a magical layout that has undulation, flow and a lot of medium to high-speed corners. It has everything you want really.
“I can’t wait to return and I think we are planning to test there beforehand so it should help.”
Audi R8 image courtesy of Kristof Vermeulen
