Matteo Cairoli fastest, only Fittipaldi within 1"

Matteo Cairoli in Iron Lynx – Proton’s #9 ORECA 07 Gibson topped the times in the first practice session at Le Castellet for the second race of the 2025 European Le Mans Series as he did during yesterday during the ELMS Collective test day. It was almost one second fastest than the second fastest lap. Only Pietro Fittipaldi was able to lap within one second from Cairoli’s benchmark.

Cairoli by far the fastest

Matteo Cairoli (Iron Lynx – Proton’s #9 ORECA 07 Gibson) outpaced all drivers with a 1:49.086 using the Mistral’s chicane on the Le Castellet circuit. Yesterday Cairoli also topped the day collective test with a 1:49.559.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Castellet 2025. Iron Lynx – Proton’s #9 ORECA 07 Gibson

Fittipaldi also under the 1:50” mark

Pietro Fittipaldi came closest and was the only one (with Cairoli) under the 1:50” mark in #10 Vector Sport Oreca with a 1:49.983. Yesterday, Nicholas YELLOLY in #43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 - Gibson and Benjamin HANLEY in #22 United Autosports Oreca 07 - Gibson were (with Cairoli) the only ones under the 1:50” mark respectively in 1:49.786 and 1:49.97.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Castellet 2025. #10 Vector Sport Oreca

Both Inter Europol Competition third a fifth

Luca GHIOTTO in #34 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07 - Gibson was third best with a 1:50.246 while Nicholas YELLOLY in sister car #43 was fifth with a 1:50.35.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Castellet 2025. #34 Inter Europol Competition Oreca (left), #43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca(right).

VDS Panis Racing fourth

Esteban MASSON driving #48 VDS Panis Racing Oreca 07 - Gibson was fourth with a 1:50.318.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Le Castellet 2025. #48 VDS Panis Racing

Schedule

Saturday May 3rd:

• 10:10-11:40: Free Practice 2

• 14:20-15:50: Qualifying in four sessions of 15’ per class.

Sunday May 4th: 12:00-16:00: race

Related info

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Barcelona. ELMS circus at Le Castellet this coming weekend.

📷 © Courtesy of iron Dames. The Iron Dames commanding performance at Barcelona

📷 © Luc Warnotet at Barcelona. 4 women at start of race with the 4 clinching P1

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Barcelona. Mercedes-AMG in LMGT3 and Ligier JS P325s in LMP3