(settings) | Login Skip Navigation LinksRSC Home > Reports & News > European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone

17th - 18th August 2018

Event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 001European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 002

For the 4th round of the 2018 season, the ELMS took place in the UK circuit at Silverstone, known for being a mecca for British motorsport.

16 LMP2, 18 LMP3 and 7 LMGTE were on the entry-list.

LMP2

Britain’s Will Stevens (Ligier JSP217 – Gibson #23 - Panis Barthez Competition) claimed pole position for his home race, posting a rapid 1m43.690 on his last flying lap to take the top spot for this afternoon’s 4 Hours of Silverstone by over seven tenths of a second.

With a time of 1'44''426, Jean-Eric Vergne (ORECA-Gibson #26 - G-Drive Racing) signed the second best lap. Ben Hanley (Oreca 07 - Gibson #21 - DragonSpeed) and Nicolas Jamin (Oreca 07 - Gibson #29 - Duqueine Engineering) took respectively the third and fourth places on the grid.

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 003European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 004European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 005European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 006European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 007European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 008European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 009European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 010European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 011European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 012European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 013European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 014European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 015European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 016European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 017European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 018

The race

Roman Rusinov, Andrea Pizzitola and Jean-Eric Vergne (ORECA-Gibson #26 - G-Drive Racing) won the 4 Hours of Silverstone, the third win in a row for the Russian flagged team to extend their championship lead with 87 points.

Nicolas Lapierre, Henrik Hedman and Ben Hanley (Oreca 07 - Gibson #21 - DragonSpeed) and Paul Lafargue, Paul Loup Chatin and Memo Rojas (Oreca 07 - Gibson #28 - IDEC Sport) completed the podium not without conceded one lap to the winners.

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 019European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 020European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 021European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 022European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 023European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 024European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 025European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 026European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 027European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 028European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 029European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 030European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 031European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 032European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 033European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 034

LMP3

Mattia Drudi (Ligier JS P3 - Nissan #12 - Eurointernational) took pole position in 1'55''508, ahead of Ross Kaiser (Ligier JS P3 - Nissan #6 - 360 Racing), followed Sean Rayhall (Ligier JS P3 - Nissan #2 - United Autosports) at 0"154 of the poleman and ahead of Matt Bell by 0''141 (Ligier JS P3 - Nissan #3 - United Autosports).

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 035European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 036European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 037European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 038European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 039European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 040European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 041European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 042European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 043European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 044European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 045European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 046European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 047European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 048European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 049European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 050European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 051European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 052

The race

Tony Wells, Matt Bell and Garret Grist (Ligier JS P3 – Nissan #3 - United Autosports) took their first LMP3 win of the 2018 season ahead of Colin Noble, Alex Kapadia and Christian Stubbe Olsen (Ligier JS P3 – Nissan #7 - ECURIE ECOSSE / NIELSEN) and Mathieu Lahaye, Jean-Baptiste Lahaye and François Heriau (Norma M 30 – Nissan #17 – Ultimate) the three cars finishing in the same 117th lap.

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 053European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 054European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 055European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 056European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 057European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 058European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 059European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 060European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 061European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 062European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 063European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 064European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 065European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 066European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 067European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 068European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 069European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 070

LMGTE

In 1'58''704, the Norwegian Dennis Olsen (Porsche 911 RSR #77 - Proton Competition) clinched the pole of a highly contested qualifying session.

Matteo Cairoli (Porsche 911 RSR #88 - Proton Competition) finished the qualifying session six hundredths of a second behind his teammate.

The top three cars split by just 0.14 seconds.

At the chequered flag it was a Porsche 911 RSR 1-2-3, with Ben Barker (Porsche 911 RSR 991 #86 - Gulf Racing) third fastest.

Miguel Molina (Ferrari F488 GTE #66 - JMW Motorsport) completed the second line.

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 071European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 072European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 073European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 074

The race

Gianluca Roda (Porsche 911 RSR #88 - Proton Competition) made a good start to lead ahead of Christian Ried (Porsche 911 RSR #77 - Proton Competition).

The two 911 RSRs were followed by Liam Griffin (Ferrari F488 GTE #66 - JMW Motorsport) and Duncan Cameron (Ferrari F488 GTE #55 Spirit of Race).

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 075European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 076European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 077European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 078

A good battle developed with the two Ferraris eventually getting the upper hand over their Porsche rivals.

Miguel Molina (Ferrari F488 GTE #66 - JMW Motorsport) hunting down and passing Matt Griffin (Ferrari F488 GTE #55 Spirit of Race).

The two leading Ferraris were subject to a 10 second penalty for exceeding track limits.

Then it was enough to Matteo Cairoli was catching the leading pair and only had to finish within 10 seconds of Molina’s Ferrari to take the win.

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 079European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 080European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 081European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 082

On the final lap Cairoli, Porsche #88, caught Matt Griffin, Ferrari #55, but an incident saw the two cars go off track, with the Porsche moving ahead of the Ferrari.

However, the slight delay caused by the off track moment cost Cairoli and at the chequered flag he was 10.126s behind Molina, which translated into a win for the Spanish driver by just 0.126s.

This meant that victory went to the #66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari for the second time in 2018.

European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 083European Le Mans Series 2018 - 4 Hours of Silverstone (event report Raymond Bonnello, photos Fréderic Lemaire) - picture number 084

See you for the next round of 2018 European Le Mans Series at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday 23 September.

(Based on ELMS Press release)