In another of our check-ins with the 2026 BRDC SuperStars, we talked to reigning European Le Mans Series champion Oliver Gray about his return to the series in the LMP2 class.
Ollie, how has your season been so far?
“It’s been pretty good so far. I think there’s a little bit more pressure again, just because not many people have gone back-to-back in the Pro category, but it’s cool. Winning in Barcelona straight out of the box was a good statement to make after we struggled there a little bit last year.
“Coming into Paul Ricard, we knew we had a good car there from last year. We were really, really fast and it looked like we were definitely on for a guaranteed podium, and we were fighting for the win. Then a sensor in the fuel tank broke, so we didn’t finish that one.”
Then, of course, you moved to Le Mans for the 24-hour race. How was that?
“It was good. We maximised everything we could after what happened quite early in the race. My teammate had a bit of a moment, so we lost a lap. We were actually a lap down for 16 hours, so we thought it was race over for us, but we got a very opportune Safety Car. We got the lap back and then it was me and Esteban to the finish, and we just pushed like hell.
“We maximised the strategy as much as we could, as we were on the back foot on fuel numbers compared to the winners, but we were happy to finish on the podium again. It was a little bittersweet, but a podium at Le Mans is a really cool experience, and I can’t be too unhappy with that. It was my second podium visit at Le Mans after second place last year, so I’ve completed two-thirds of it now. I just need the important one.”
Then it was a return to your regular European Le Mans Series season at Imola…
“Yes, Imola was just an incredible weekend. We were the fastest car from the get-go. It was just one of those weekends where everything was sort of falling into place. The race was pretty tough. There were different strategies with tyres and fuel numbers because of a few interventions at the start. Then we made a really good strategy call with an undercut to get up to the United car halfway through the race, which was just at the end of my stint.
“I saved a lot of fuel behind the leader, so Esteban was able to jump in and undercut with a shorter fuel time. Then it was a cruise to the finish after that because we had a massive tyre and fuel advantage. It was a really cool one.”
That result put you back in the championship hunt after the Paul Ricard DNF.
“Exactly. Now we’re six points back in the championship. We could have been in a bit of a better position, but we can’t complain about the year we’ve had so far. I’m just looking forward to Spa. We’re playing a bit of catch-up because the United Autosports car is very consistent. They’ve got a very strong line-up with three very good drivers.
“They’ve had a win and two seconds, so they’re looking very consistent right now. We just need to match that from here on out, and hopefully another couple of podiums will stand us in good stead going into the last race.”