Back for more in 2026, and with an expanded role within the Genesis Magma Racing set up, Jamie Chadwick sees this ELMS season as an opportunity to take the next major step forward in her career.
The 27-year-old from Bath, whose CV features three-time W Series titles, an MRF Challenge title, a British GT4 championship, and wins in Indy NXT and LMP2, has returned to the European Le Mans Series with IDEC Sport and the Genesis Trajectory Programme. Joined in the #18 ORECA by Valerio Rinicella and Laurents Hörr – who make up the second intake for the Korean brand’s driver development initiative – she has ambition not only to fight for the LMP2 title, but to take steps to transition from a reserve and test role to a full-time Hypercar driver.
Her debut ELMS season last year was, in many ways, a blur, though it opened a significant door. Partnered with Daniel Juncadella and Mathys Jaubert, who have since gone on to secure roles in Genesis’ WEC roster, she won three races (becoming the first female driver to win an ELMS race overall) and stood on the podium four times, en route to a third-place finish in the championship.
The trio burst onto the scene, winning the rounds at Barcelona and Paul Ricard to kick things off, and remained a contender thereafter, capturing plenty of headlines along the way. And while there was no fairytale ending at Portimão, all three drivers had their efforts rewarded handsomely by Genesis once the season came to a close.
12 months on from that fast start, Chadwick believes she’s a more well-rounded prototype driver and hopes that will translate to strong finishes in the results columns throughout her second European tour.
I feel like I made good progress throughout the year. By the end, it all felt more natural
“It was an amazing season,” she tells DSC, reflecting on 2025. “If you take the results, it looks incredible, and we surprised ourselves massively, but with only six races, the amount of time you get in the car is quite limited.
“We needed to hit the ground running, and even though we won the first two races, the round at Barcelona, looking back, was by far my worst race of the season. The team’s performance was great, though, and I feel like I made good progress throughout the year. By the end, it all felt more natural.
“So now, here for a second campaign, it’s nice, I return knowing what to expect and where I’m at. Last year, what we did really well was to avoid setting unrealistic expectations. If we can mirror that this year with my new teammates, I’m confident something big is possible.”
According to Chadwick, the plan was always for her to return in LMP2 this year as part of her development curve.
“It was quite clear I’d be back as Mathys and Dani moved up (to the Hypercar stable), what evolved was the planning around the look of the IDEC programme with Genesis and my teammates,” she explains. “I didn’t know about Valerio and Laurents until the end of the year. But I knew what my plan was, and that helped a lot in terms of off-season preparation.”
Around Chadwick in the IDEC Sport garage, so much has changed for year two. Last season, the #18 was operated almost entirely by engineers and mechanics linked with the Genesis Hypercar effort, who used the campaign as a chance to sharpen up ahead of the GMR-001’s debut season in 2026. This year, though, with the WEC programme in full swing, IDEC has taken back full control of both sides of the garage.
“Naturally, Genesis has progressed into fully focusing on operating the cars in WEC this year,” she adds. “In hindsight, it was an incredibly successful initiative, giving not only drivers but also key staff a chance to find themselves in the environment and develop.
“What’s good though is that this year, while the crew working on the car has changed, IDEC are still super experienced and we still have support from Genesis from afar.”
I’m getting a taste of what the expectations and requirements are to become a full-time Hypercar driver first-hand
With a fourth-place finish in Spain banked to start the season, the push for the title continues for Chadwick and her teammates this weekend at Le Castellet.
Chadwick’s focus, though, remains split as we approach the second half of the year. Between races, she’s hands-on with Magma Racing’s Hypercar programme, as part of what she hopes will be a journey that ends with her becoming the first-ever female factory driver in the FIA WEC’s Hypercar class.
“This schedule is so busy, and it’s great for me,” she says. “I’ve loved getting involved in the development of the Hypercar and getting behind the wheel in endurance testing. I got a lot of laps (at Magny-Cours, Aragon, and Barcelona), and it was awesome. Things are changing, evolving, and seeing the team grow from the ground up and enter Hypercar has been great to be a part of.
“I’m a sponge in the environment, I’m getting a taste of what the expectations and requirements are to become a full-time Hypercar driver first-hand. Having that in front of me, travelling to WEC races, completing sim work, all while racing an LMP2, is super helpful.
“It’s impossible to know what the future holds, of course, because it relies on many factors. I need to have a strong season in LMP2, and I’m aiming for a good step in my performances, and then when I’m driving the Hypercar, I’ll see where I end up.
“There are clear metrics for me to measure myself against. I recognise it won’t be easy, but I’ve got a big opportunity here. I’d like to say getting a Hypercar in the coming years is achievable.”
Images courtesy of Genesis, ELMS & David Lord
