2025 4 Hours of Le Castellet
The 2025 4 Hours of Le Castellet was an endurance sportscar racing event, held between 2 and 4 May 2025 at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France. It was the second of six rounds of the 2025 European Le Mans Series season, and the fourteenth consecutive running of the event as part of the championship.
Entry list
The provisional entry list was published on 24 April 2025 and consisted of 44 entries across 4 categories – 13 in LMP2, 8 in LMP2 Pro-Am, 10 in LMP3, and 13 in LMGT3.[1][2] In the LMP2 Pro-Am class, Nicklas Nielsen replaced Alessio Rovera in the No. 83 AF Corse Oreca.[1] Louis Stern replaced Louis Rossi in the No. 35 Ultimate Ligier in the LMP3 class. Furthermore, Sebastian Gravlund did not drive in the No. 11 EuroInternational Ligier; driving duties will be shared between Ian Aguilera and Fabien Michal.[2] Finally, James Calado replaced Daniel Serra in the No. 57 Kessel Racing Ferrari in the LMGT3 class.[1][2]
After suffering back pain in testing on Friday, Claudio Schiavoni opted to sit out the event. Christian Ried replaced him in the No. 60 Proton Competition Porsche.[3]
Schedule
| Date | Time (local: CEST) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 2 May | 11:00 | Free Practice 1 |
| 15:00 | Bronze Driver Collective Test | |
| Saturday, 3 May | 10:10 | Free Practice 2 |
| 14:20 | Qualifying – LMGT3 | |
| 14:45 | Qualifying – LMP3 | |
| 15:10 | Qualifying – LMP2 Pro-Am | |
| 15:35 | Qualifying – LMP2 | |
| Sunday, 4 May | 12:00 | Race |
| Source:[4] | ||
Free practice
Two practice sessions were held before the event: one on Friday and one on Saturday. Both sessions ran for 90 minutes.[4]
Practice 1
The first practice session started at 11:00 CEST on Friday. Matteo Cairoli topped the session in the No. 9 Iron Lynx – Proton Oreca, with a lap time of 1:49.096. He was 0.887 seconds quicker than second-placed Pietro Fittipaldi in the No. 10 Vector Sport Oreca.[5] Laurents Hörr topped the LMP2 Pro-Am class in the No. 3 DKR Engineering Oreca, lapping the circuit in 1 minute, 50.437 seconds. Olli Caldwell was second-fastest, 0.652 seconds behind Hörr in the No. 20 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca.[6] Adrien Closmenil topped the charts in LMP3: his No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier lapped the circuit in 1:58.701, 0.116 seconds quicker than the No. 8 Team Virage Ligier of Rik Koen.[5] LMGT3 was topped by the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari, with Davide Rigon lapping the circuit in 2 minutes, 3.716 seconds. Rigon's team mate Riccardo Agostini was second-fastest in the No. 50 Ferrari, 0.028 seconds behind. The No. 86 GR Racing Ferrari of Riccardo Pera finished the session in third.[6] The session saw one red-flag stoppage after Kriton Lendoudis beached his car on the kerb.[6]
| Class | No. | Entrant | Driver | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMP2 | 9 | Iron Lynx – Proton | Matteo Cairoli | 1:49.096 | |
| LMP2 Pro-Am | 3 | DKR Engineering | Laurents Hörr | 1:50.437 | |
| LMP3 | 17 | CLX Motorsport | Adrien Closmenil | 1:58.701 | |
| LMGT3 | 51 | AF Corse | Davide Rigon | 2:03.716 | |
| Source:[7][8] | |||||
- Note: Only the fastest car in each class is shown.
Practice 2
The second practice session started at 10:10 CEST on Saturday, with Cairoli once again topping the timing sheets in the No. 9 Oreca with a lap time of 1:49.736. He was 0.311 seconds quicker than Charles Milesi in the No. 48 VDS Panis Racing Oreca. Nick Yelloly was third-quickest in the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca, 0.358 seconds behind Cairoli.[9] The LMP2 Pro-Am class was topped by Louis Delétraz in the No. 99 AO by TF Oreca, with a 1-minute, 50.309-second lap time. James Allen was second-quickest in the No. 27 Nielsen Racing Oreca.[10] Closmenil kept the lead in the LMP3 class, with a lap time of 1:59.539. Griffin Peebles was second-quickest in the No. 12 WTM by Rinaldi Racing Duqueine, 0.173 seconds behind Closmenil.[10] The No. 50 Ferrari topped the LMGT3 class with Lilou Wadoux behind the wheel: her lap time of 2:03.621 was 0.006 seconds quicker than that of second-placed Tom Fleming in the No. 86 Ferrari. The No. 57 Kessel Racing Ferrari of Ben Tuck rounded out the top three.[9]
| Class | No. | Entrant | Driver | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMP2 | 9 | Iron Lynx – Proton | Matteo Cairoli | 1:49.736 | |
| LMP2 Pro-Am | 99 | AO by TF | Louis Delétraz | 1:50.309 | |
| LMP3 | 17 | CLX Motorsport | Adrien Closmenil | 1:59.539 | |
| LMGT3 | 50 | Richard Mille AF Corse | Lilou Wadoux | 2:03.621 | |
| Source:[11][12] | |||||
- Note: Only the fastest car in each class is shown.
Qualifying
Qualifying started at 14:20 CEST on Saturday, with four sessions of fifteen minutes each, one session for each class.[4] Nick Yelloly claimed pole position in the No. 43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca.[13]
Qualifying results
Pole position winners in each class are marked in bold.
| Pos | Class | No. | Team | Driver | Time | Gap | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LMP2 | 43 | Inter Europol Competition | Nick Yelloly | 1:48.741 | — | 1 |
| 2 | LMP2 | 48 | VDS Panis Racing | Charles Milesi | 1:48.976 | +0.235 | 2 |
| 3 | LMP2 | 9 | Iron Lynx – Proton | Matteo Cairoli | 1:49.009 | +0.268 | 3 |
| 4 | LMP2 | 18 | IDEC Sport | Mathys Jaubert | 1:49.206 | +0.465 | 4 |
| 5 | LMP2 | 34 | Inter Europol Competition | Luca Ghiotto | 1:49.436 | +0.695 | 5 |
| 6 | LMP2 | 37 | CLX – Pure Rxcing | Tom Blomqvist | 1:49.502 | +0.761 | 6 |
| 7 | LMP2 | 28 | IDEC Sport | Paul-Loup Chatin | 1:49.503 | +0.762 | 7 |
| 8 | LMP2 | 30 | Duqueine Team | Reshad de Gerus | 1:49.583 | +0.842 | 8 |
| 9 | LMP2 | 25 | Algarve Pro Racing | Théo Pourchaire | 1:49.778 | +1.037 | 9 |
| 10 | LMP2 | 47 | CLX Motorsport | Enzo Fittipaldi | 1:49.817 | +1.076 | 10 |
| 11 | LMP2 | 10 | Vector Sport | Pietro Fittipaldi | 1:49.894 | +1.153 | 11 |
| 12 | LMP2 | 24 | Nielsen Racing | Ferdinand Habsburg | 1:49.906 | +1.165 | 12 |
| 13 | LMP2 | 22 | United Autosports | Ben Hanley | 1:50.029 | +1.288 | 13 |
| 14 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 99 | AO by TF | P. J. Hyett | 1:51.442 | +2.701 | 14 |
| 15 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 77 | Proton Competition | Giorgio Roda | 1:51.586 | +2.845 | 15 |
| 16 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 29 | TDS Racing | Rodrigo Sales | 1:52.353 | +3.612 | 16 |
| 17 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 3 | DKR Engineering | Georgios Kolovos | 1:53.053 | +4.312 | 17 |
| 18 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 21 | United Autosports | Daniel Schneider | 1:53.495 | +4.754 | 18 |
| 19 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 27 | Nielsen Racing | Anthony Wells | 1:53.864 | +5.123 | 19 |
| 20 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 20 | Algarve Pro Racing | Kriton Lendoudis | 1:56.533 | +7.792 | 20 |
| 21 | LMP3 | 17 | CLX Motorsport | Adrien Closmenil | 1:57.194 | +8.453 | 22 |
| 22 | LMP3 | 8 | Team Virage | Rik Koen | 1:58.119 | +9.378 | 23 |
| 23 | LMP3 | 12 | WTM by Rinaldi Racing | Griffin Peebles | 1:58.186 | +9.445 | 24 |
| 24 | LMP3 | 11 | EuroInternational | Ian Aguilera | 1:58.267 | +9.526 | 25 |
| 25 | LMP3 | 15 | RLR MSport | Gillian Henrion | 1:58.321 | +9.580 | 26 |
| 26 | LMP3 | 68 | M Racing | Quentin Antonel | 1:58.412 | +9.671 | 27 |
| 27 | LMP3 | 88 | Inter Europol Competition | Reece Gold | 1:58.579 | +9.838 | 28 |
| 28 | LMP3 | 4 | DKR Engineering | Wyatt Brichacek | 1:58.871 | +10.130 | 29 |
| 29 | LMP3 | 31 | Racing Spirit of Léman | Marius Fossard | 1:58.940 | +10.199 | 30 |
| 30 | LMP3 | 35 | Ultimate | Jean-Baptiste Lahaye | 1:59.112 | +10.371 | 31 |
| 31 | LMGT3 | 59 | Racing Spirit of Léman | Clément Mateu | 2:04.641 | +15.900 | 32 |
| 32 | LMGT3 | 55 | Spirit of Race | Duncan Cameron | 2:05.364 | +16.623 | 33 |
| 33 | LMGT3 | 63 | Iron Lynx | Martin Berry | 2:05.417 | +16.676 | 34 |
| 34 | LMGT3 | 50 | Richard Mille AF Corse | Custodio Toledo | 2:05.500 | +16.759 | 35 |
| 35 | LMGT3 | 74 | Kessel Racing | Andrew Gilbert | 2:05.673 | +16.932 | 36 |
| 36 | LMGT3 | 85 | Iron Dames | Célia Martin | 2:05.712 | +16.971 | 37 |
| 37 | LMGT3 | 82 | TF Sport | Hiroshi Koizumi | 2:06.136 | +17.395 | 38 |
| 38 | LMGT3 | 60 | Proton Competition | Christian Ried | 2:06.441 | +17.700 | 39 |
| 39 | LMGT3 | 51 | AF Corse | Charles-Henri Samani | 2:06.683 | +17.942 | 40 |
| 40 | LMGT3 | 66 | JMW Motorsport | Scott Noble | 2:06.741 | +18.000 | 41 |
| 41 | LMGT3 | 57 | Kessel Racing | Takeshi Kimura | 2:06.806 | +18.065 | 42 |
| 42 | LMGT3 | 86 | GR Racing | Michael Wainwright | 2:07.261 | +18.520 | 43 |
| 43 | LMGT3 | 23 | United Autosports | Michael Birch | 2:08.501 | +19.760 | 44 |
| 44 | LMP2 Pro-Am | 83 | AF Corse | François Perrodo | No time set[Q 1] | 21 | |
| Source:[16][17][18][19][20][21] | |||||||
Race
The race started at 12:00 CEST on Sunday, and ran for 4 hours.[4]
Race results
The minimum number of laps for classification (70% of overall winning car's distance) was 74 laps. Class winners are in bold and ‡.
Notes
Qualifying
- ^ The No. 83 AF Corse Oreca did not set a lap time as François Perrodo had to leave the circuit to attend business matters.[14] Per ELMS regulations, the car started from the back of the LMP2 Pro-Am class.[15]
References
- ^ a b c Kilbey, Stephen (24 April 2025). "Le Mans Winners Calado & Nielsen Headline Entry Changes For Paul Ricard". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ a b c "44 engagés en European Le Mans Series au Paul Ricard". Endurance-Info (in French). 24 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "4H Le Castellet: Saturday Paddock Notes". Dailysportscar. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d "2025 European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet – Timetable V2" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ a b Euwema, Davey (2 May 2025). "Cairoli Fastest in Opening Paul Ricard Practice". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Kilbey, Stephen (2 May 2025). "Cairoli Sets The Pace In Practice 1 At Paul Ricard". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Free Practice 1 – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Free Practice 1 – Final Classification by Driver Fastest Lap" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b Kilbey, Stephen (3 May 2025). "Iron Lynx's Fast Start To Weekend Continues In FP2". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Matteo Cairoli enchaîne en EL2 au Paul Ricard". Endurance-Info (in French). 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Free Practice 2 – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Free Practice 2 – Final Classification by Driver Fastest Lap" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ Newbold, James (3 May 2025). "Yelloly Grabs Pole At Paul Ricard". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ Kilbey, Stephen (3 May 2025). "Yelloly Nabs Paul Ricard Pole For Inter Europol". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "2025 Sporting Regulations V1.3" (PDF). Google APIs. Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 12 November 2024. p. 53. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
Cars will be placed on the grid per category in the following order: LMP2, LMP2 Pro/Am, LMP3, LMGT3
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Qualifying – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Qualifying LMP2 – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Qualifying LMP2 Pro/Am – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Qualifying LMP3 – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Qualifying LMGT3 – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 3 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Race – Final Starting Grid" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "European Le Mans Series – 4 Hours of Le Castellet Race – Final Classification" (PDF). ELMS Alkamel. Alkamel Systems. 4 May 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.