2 days ago
Jamie Chadwick Makes LMP2 Debut At Legendary 24 Hours Of Le Mans
Jamie Chadwick is set to make her highly anticipated debut this weekend at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking on one of the greatest challenges in motorsport.
The British driver is no stranger to breaking new ground. In May 2025, Chadwick became the first woman to secure an overall victory in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, driving for IDEC Sport. She had already made history earlier by winning her LMP2 debut at the 4 Hours of Barcelona, becoming the first woman to win in that class within the series. In 2024, she also made headlines as the first woman to win an INDY NXT race on a road course, dominating Road America by leading every lap from pole position.
For Chadwick, standing on the grid at Le Mans feels almost surreal.
'Honestly, excited,' she says with a grin. 'It's a bit of a pinch-me moment just to be here and competing. It's funny because you're initially just thrilled to arrive, you're laughing and soaking it all in. But then, quite quickly, you shift into performance mode. You're not satisfied with just being here, you want to get the best result possible.'
Chadwick will compete with IDEC Sport in the LMP2 class at the 93rd running of the world's most prestigious endurance race. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is held at the historic Circuit de la Sarthe, near Le Mans, France, a demanding track that combines permanent racing sections with public roads. The race is a grueling test of both speed and stamina, requiring teams to not only push their machines to the limit but also carefully manage their drivers across the full day and night of racing.
Teams at the 24 Hours of Le Mans must rotate through three drivers, with no individual allowed more than 14 hours behind the wheel. Stints can range anywhere from 45 minutes to four hours depending on strategy, weather, and race conditions. It is a format that demands as much focus on teamwork and endurance as outright pace.
Chadwick's debut comes on the heels of a record-setting season in the European Le Mans Series, where she became the first woman to win an overall race in the championship's history. Those victories at Catalunya and Le Castellet, alongside teammates André Lotterer and Mathys Jaubert, have given the squad strong momentum heading into the 24-hour test.
'Obviously, really good momentum,' Chadwick says. 'Slightly unexpected in some regards for the two races, but at the same time, they were four-hour races in the ELMS. Now we come into a 24-hour race, a completely different challenge, a different beast. But we're excited. I think it's going to be a challenge in every sense. You can't make mistakes, no one can make mistakes, and that's one of the beauties of Le Mans.'
The magnitude of Le Mans cannot be overstated. More than just speed, this race demands endurance, precision, and flawless teamwork over an entire day and night of running. Last year, IDEC Sport claimed its first-ever podium finish at Le Mans. This time, the team has its sights set even higher.
'Honestly, the goal is to try and finish the race, that's an achievement in itself here,' Chadwick admits. 'But yeah, for sure, you don't come to Le Mans without dreaming. I think we dream of being on that podium, and ultimately we dream of being on the top step. Whether that's a realistic goal or not, we need to reassess properly after 24 hours, but we're still going to aim high.'
IDEC Sport's driver lineup is one of the most promising in the LMP2 field. Andre Lotterer, a three-time Le Mans winner, brings invaluable knowledge and experience, while Mathys Jaubert, a young French talent, has shown impressive pace.
'We're so lucky to have André joining us, he's got a wealth of experience. He's been incredibly valuable to the team already, but also valuable to us as drivers,' Chadwick says. 'He's as good as you're going to get around this track. And then Mathys is a teammate that I've raced with in other series, and he's great as well. A young guy, a bit of a diamond we've found, super fast. He's French, so it's kind of a local race for him in a way. Yeah, we're all excited to see what we can do.'
Chadwick is quick to point out how different endurance racing is from the single-seater world where she built much of her career.
'It's a different experience, but I'm really enjoying it,' she says. 'So many things need to fall into place. Everyone needs to do their specific job within the team, and I think the combination of all that coming together is what ends up in a result. The feeling is almost even greater sometimes when we do get a result because it's such a team effort.'
That collective spirit is what has drawn Chadwick into the endurance racing world.
'24 hours, it's tough. It's tough on the mind, tough on the body,' she reflects. 'So there's an achievement in itself just getting through a lot of these events and these races, which is a very different kind of thing from what I've done before. But at the same time, it's a really cool experience to be a part of. It's very much a team game, and I really enjoy that bit.'
As the 93rd running of Le Mans approaches, Chadwick's excitement is balanced by focus and determination. She knows that simply surviving the race is an accomplishment, but her sights are set higher.
'It's obviously very cool. It's a very special event, a special race. A bit of a dream come true to be able to debut and race this weekend,' she says. 'Incredible.'
24 Hours of Le Mans will begin on Saturday, June 14th at 4 p.m. local time in France, 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The 24-hour marathon will conclude on Sunday, June 15th at the same time.
