Reigning European Le Mans Series (ELMS) champion Ollie Gray is hoping to turn his fortunes around at Silverstone as Forestier Racing by Panis arrives at the penultimate round of the 2026 season leading the LMP2 championship.
Gray, Esteban Masson and Louis Rousset head into the Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone level on 70 points with the #22 United Autosports crew of Ben Hanley, Grégoire Saucy and Griffin Peebles. However, the #29 Forestier Racing by Panis trio leads on countback courtesy of victories in Barcelona and Imola.
For 21-year-old Gray, the weekend also represents an opportunity to perform at home after a difficult Silverstone race in 2025. The Surrey-born driver believes the consistency shown throughout this season leaves the defending champions well placed as the title battle enters its final two rounds.
Consistency key to Gray’s title defence
Gray enters Silverstone attempting to become a back-to-back ELMS champion after a breakthrough 2025 campaign with VDS Panis Racing.
Having made his ELMS debut with Inter Europol Competition in 2024, Gray joined Panis the following season alongside Masson and Charles Milesi. A second-place finish at the Barcelona opener preceded victories at Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimão, securing the title in his first season with the team. He also finished second in LMP2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The organisation became Forestier Racing by Panis for 2026, with Rousset joining Gray and Masson. Two victories from the opening four rounds, together with second place at Spa, have returned the team to the head of the standings ahead of Silverstone.
Gray believes maintaining that consistency through a six-round championship has been central to their position.
“I think the lessons that I’m taking into the final race are just the consistency that we found throughout the year between all three of us drivers, and that’s the key. I think over a six-round championship, 24 hours of racing, it’s really key to be consistent, and that’s what we’ve done so far this year. We’ve obviously had Paul Ricard; that was a little bit out of our control, but we put in very solid and consistent performances, all three of us, so that’s the main thing.”
Although only the penultimate round, Silverstone carries particular significance with the two leading crews level on points. Any meaningful swing before Portimão could therefore prove decisive in determining which team enters the finale in control.
Defending ELMS crown remains significant for Gray
Gray’s current championship challenge follows the most important achievement of his career to date.
Before endurance racing, the British driver competed in British F4, FIA F3 and Porsche Carrera Cup Italia. His switch into prototypes eventually brought his first European championship title in 2025, an achievement he considers a major milestone for both himself and those who have supported his career.
“It meant everything. I think it was it was what I’ve been working towards, and what everyone behind me has been working towards my entire career. Winning a European Championship at this level was amazing and I couldn’t have asked to do it with better people either. Hopefully we can we can do it again.”
The opportunity to repeat that success remains firmly within reach. Forestier Racing by Panis and United Autosports have separated themselves at the front after four rounds, with the #18 IDEC Sport entry sitting third on 52 points before Silverstone.
Gray nevertheless faces a very different championship situation from simply defending an advantage. The two leading crews are tied, while the intensity of LMP2 competition means a poor result could quickly change the complexion of the title battle.
Forestier Racing by Panis synergy central to success
Continuity has been another important element of the team’s title defence. Gray and Masson remain together from the 2025 championship-winning line-up, while Rousset has integrated into the crew for 2026.
Despite the change in identity from VDS Panis Racing to Forestier Racing by Panis, Gray believes the close working relationship between the drivers and wider team has remained one of its greatest strengths.
“The team is amazing. I mean you can you can see with the success that we’ve had over the past the last couple of years the synergy that we found between drivers, engineers, team bosses and mechanics has been incredible.
“Introducing Louis into the team this year has been a really smooth step for him and for us. We get along very, very well; that is always a good point to have in endurance racing. We need to have good synergy and not too much ego between the three of us, so we can really just work towards one common goal. That’s what Forestier Racing by Panis is all about.”
That approach has already produced two victories in 2026. Gray, Masson and Rousset won at Barcelona before adding another victory at Imola, while their second-place finish at Spa returned the #29 to the championship lead on countback.
Silverstone provides Gray’s favourite challenge
The penultimate round also carries additional significance for Gray because it takes place at his home circuit.
Silverstone is a venue he knows well from his years in British single-seater racing, and its high-speed nature provides a particularly demanding showcase for the Oreca 07-Gibson. Gray identifies the Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel sequence as one of the highlights of the calendar, with the downforce generated by the LMP2 machinery allowing drivers to attack at considerable speed.
“Silverstone is my favourite one on the calendar, I’ve been looking forward to it all year. I think the common answer is Maggotts, Becketts, Chapel which are some of the best corners in motorsport. In the LMP2 Oreca, it’s incredible. The speed that you can carry through, the downforce that you feel going through the corners is amazing. I’m looking forward to pushing the max there this year.”
The Goodyear 4 Hours of Silverstone marks Round 5 of six and the second edition of the event since ELMS returned to the British circuit. The 2026 grid features 47 cars, including 11 LMP2 entries, with 20 British drivers competing across the four classes.
Gray aims to erase difficult memories of 2025 Silverstone race
While Gray enjoys the circuit, last year’s result did not reflect the pace shown by the Panis squad.
Masson put the car on pole position, and the team remained among the strongest contenders during the opening half of the race. However, an emergency pit stop and subsequent penalty disrupted its challenge, leaving the crew eighth at the finish.
Returning as defending champion and championship leader, Gray believes the underlying pace demonstrated in 2025 provides reason for confidence rather than concern.
“Silverstone last year was a tough one because we felt we had the best car and the best pace all year. We were really looking strong throughout the first half of the race but, unfortunately, we got a bit unlucky with the strategy where we had to make an emergency pit stop, and then later a penalty caused us to have a bad result. However, we know we have amazing pace around there and all three of us are going to be very, very confident going into the weekend. So we’ll see. Hopefully, we can turn our fortune around at Silverstone and I hope to stand on my home podium.”
A home podium would carry considerably more value than personal satisfaction. With Forestier Racing by Panis and United Autosports inseparable on points, Silverstone represents the final opportunity to establish an advantage before the championship concludes at Portimão in October.
Racing remains Gray’s focus away from the circuit
Away from the championship fight, Gray spends much of his free time playing golf and has also recently taken running more seriously.
The Briton, who plays off a handicap of around five, is preparing to tackle the London Marathon and hopes to use the event to raise money for charity. Even so, racing remains central to his attention as he approaches one of the most important weekends of his title defence.
“One of my favourite hobbies is golf outside of outside of racing. My handicap is around five, and that’s what I enjoyed playing with friends. Just recently got into running a bit more seriously than I have in the past, as I will be tackling the London Marathon next year, hopefully to raise the money for charity, which would be nice.
“At the moment, those are the two things that I’m doing the most, which is taking up most of my time when I’m not racing. But my mind’s always on racing, really.”
That focus now turns fully towards Silverstone. Gray enters his home round as the reigning ELMS champion, but with Forestier Racing by Panis only leading United Autosports on countback, there is little margin for error.
After last year’s missed opportunity, the Briton heads back to one of his favourite circuits convinced that the pace is there to produce a very different result — and potentially take a significant step towards a second consecutive ELMS crown.
