Preview: 4 Hours of Le Castellet

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s race

Published

02 MAY 2025

Est. reading time

3 min

IDEC Sport made a flying start to their 2025 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) campaign last month — and they will be looking to build on that Round 1 victory this weekend.

The French outfit won the LMP2 class at 4 Hours of Barcelona back in April, in Jamie’s first-ever attempt at endurance racing.

Next up is a home race for the team, as they head to Circuit Paul Ricard for 4 Hours of Le Castellet.

Race recap

Things could hardly have gone any better for Jamie and her team-mates Mathys Jaubert and Daniel Juncadella in Catalonia.

The trio of debutants built on a P5 qualifying position to claim top spot in their class — and even came close to securing an overall Round 1 triumph.

A late Safety Car meant that AF Corse’s No.83 was able to switch to fresher tyres and pip them to the post, but IDEC nonetheless held on for a remarkable LMP2 win.

“It was obviously an incredible weekend and we kind of performed beyond expectations,” said Jamie after the race.

“We had a bit of a loose goal of being in the top five — and my team-mate Mathys [Jaubert] did a great job and qualified us in the top five.”

The 26-year-old later added: “We lost the overall lead on the last lap, but all in all, we're so, so happy.

“To get this result — and on just our first weekend — was way beyond expectations.”

Track guide

Circuit Paul Ricard has been the home of ‘4 Hours of Castellet’ since 2010, having also held the French Grand Prix at various points from 1971 to 2022.

The track is famed for its distinctive black and blue run-off areas, while its 1.8km-long Mistral straight and elongated layout make it a unique venue to race at.

“It’s got some unique characteristics — I think the big thing I enjoy the most is that we use the whole long straight,” Jamie explained in her latest track guide.

“So it’s a super-long run into Signes corner, which is a super-fast corner. For us in the LMP2 car, we’re nearly hitting 300 km/hr. Depending on the wind we could get up and above that.”

Check out the full video to get the lowdown on what else to look out for when racing gets under way in Southeast France.

Top five target

IDEC Sport Team Principal Nicolas Minassian has expressed his desire to remain in the competition’s top five places, by putting in another impressive performance during Round 2.

“The first race is behind us; we are now fully focused on the next one,” he said.

“The 4 Hours of Le Castellet is our home race. It brings good pressure. It’s a track that is dear to us, that we know well, and where we manage to perform.

“What I can say for sure is that the team is arriving with a lot of motivation. These past three weeks have allowed us to fine-tune some details.

“We remain humble, even though we are leading the championship. Each race is a reset.

“We stick to our usual methods, doing what we know best, while always trying to improve.

“Both crews are highly motivated, and we are determined to stay in the top five.”

Anything else to know?

IDEC Sport will be hoping to match or better their 2019 stint at Le Castellet, when they finished runners-up en route to 1st place in the LMP2 class that year.

And the team’s 2022 visit was similarly memorable, with Paul-Loup Chatin, Laurents Hörr and Paul Lafargue placing third that season.

Can they achieve a similar feat this weekend? We’ll find out shortly, with just a matter of hours until Jamie gets behind the wheel.

Free Practice 1 starts at 11am CEST today (Friday), before Free Practice 2 at 10.10am tomorrow. Then it’s qualifying at 3.35pm, ahead of the race itself on Sunday (12pm).

Enjoy 4 Hours of Le Castellet!