Alex Quinn will challenge for the 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP2 Pro/Am title with Nielsen Racing after opening the year with victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The 25-year-old British driver will share the #27 Oreca 07-Gibson with long-term teammate Kriton Lentoudis, while Nielsen Racing will announce the third member of the line-up at a later date.
Quinn finished second in the 2025 ELMS LMP2 Pro/Am standings after taking class victories at Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone. He has since raced with Nielsen Racing in the Asian Le Mans Series and will begin his latest European campaign at Barcelona in April.
Daytona victory gives Quinn a strong start to 2026
Quinn began the season by winning the LMP2 category at the Rolex 24 at Daytona with CrowdStrike Racing by APR.
The team recovered from an incident on the opening lap, while Quinn completed long stints during the closing stages before taking the chequered flag. He described the result as the greatest achievement of his motorsport career.
“It really was a dream start to the season. But the race was extremely difficult, we had to come back after an incident on lap one of the race. Physically it was also exhausting towards the end with long stints for me to take the flag, but our pace as an entire team was really pleasing and ultimately got us the win. It has to be the greatest day of my motorsport career and will never be forgotten. However, I don’t think the Rolex watch suits me as a farmer.”
The Daytona result gave Quinn his first major endurance victory of the year before the start of his ELMS programme with Nielsen Racing.
Quinn prepares for another 24 Hours of Le Mans appearance
Quinn will also return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with CrowdStrike Racing by APR and George Kurtz. The pair competed together at Le Mans in 2025 and will return after sharing the Daytona victory. Quinn said that result had added further motivation ahead of the French endurance classic.
“I am really excited to be back at Le Mans, but absolutely we have some extra motivation after our Daytona win. George has been really impressive the last few months, really putting everything together and showing great pace. So, it would be incredible to win both 24-hour races of the season. I think with APR and the pace we had last year, with no mistakes, we expect to be right in the fight to win.”
Quinn will therefore combine his full ELMS campaign with another LMP2 appearance at Le Mans in June.
Nielsen Racing partnership continues after Asian campaign
Before joining Nielsen Racing for the ELMS season, Quinn raced with the British team in the Asian Le Mans Series rounds in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The team demonstrated strong pace during the four races, although Quinn said the results did not always reflect its performance. He also highlighted the role the programme had played in broadening his knowledge and developing his skills.
“I honestly am really enjoying my time at Nielsen, throughout Asia we always had strong pace in the car, but fell unlucky at times, which didn’t give us the results our effort deserved. It is a great group of people, and I believe it is also expanding my knowledge as a driver and developing my skill set well. I think we will work very well together, Kriton will keep improving, and hope we can be in the position to go for the top spots at the end of each race.”
Quinn and Lentoudis will now continue their partnership in the 12-car LMP2 Pro/Am field during the six-round European season.
Barcelona begins Quinn’s latest title challenge
The 2026 ELMS season will begin at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where tyre degradation regularly plays a significant role during the four-hour race.
Quinn finished as the LMP2 Pro/Am vice-champion in 2025 and won at Spa and Silverstone. He will now return to the same six circuits as he begins his first ELMS campaign with Nielsen Racing.
The British driver said he enjoys the demands of Barcelona and believes the circuit has suited him during recent ELMS seasons.
“Barcelona is always a track I enjoy, many drivers don’t enjoy the track surface due to the degradation, but I like the challenge it throws at us and believe it has been a strength of ours in the past two seasons of ELMS.
“I must say that from Imola onwards the tracks are incredible, with so many different and unique styles, although Silverstone has to be my favourite. Yes, I may be slightly biased, but the fast-flowing corners is something I have always found suits my driving style, and I can make it home on Sunday night even after a five hour drive to Cornwall.”
After Barcelona, the championship will visit Le Castellet, Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone and Portimão.
Quinn returns after 2025 title fight
Quinn enters the new season after finishing second in the 2025 LMP2 Pro/Am standings.
His two class victories placed him among the leading crews throughout the campaign, while his subsequent programmes at Daytona and in the Asian Le Mans Series gave him further competitive mileage in LMP2 machinery.
He will now continue alongside Lentoudis at Nielsen Racing as the team prepares its #27 Oreca for the Barcelona season opener.
