After competing in British F4, FIA Formula 3 and Porsche Carrera Cup Italia, the 21-year-old from Surrey made his ELMS debut with Inter Europol Competition in 2024, securing a podium finish in Mugello in his first year of endurance racing.
A move to VDS Panis Racing in 2025 proved to be a great decision. Racing alongside Charles Milesi and Esteban Masson, Gray secured a second-place finish in the season opener in Spain and then took three wins at Imola, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao to secure the ELMS title. He even stood on the second step of the LMP2 podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year.
This year the team became Forestier Racing by Panis, with Esteban Masson and Ollie Gray being joined by Louis Rousset this season. So far, the trio have secured two wins in Barcelona and Imola and a second-place finish last month in Belgium and are currently leading the LMP2 championship.
We spoke to Ollie Gray as he prepares to return to Silverstone for his home race as the reigning ELMS champion.
Q: Two wins; a second place and two pole positions is a good tally for the season so far. You are leading the championship heading into the final two races, but the competition in LMP2 is intense. What lessons are you taking from the first four races ahead of your home event at Silverstone?
Ollie Gray: “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.”
Q: You travel to Silverstone as the reigning champion after winning the title last year. What did it mean to you and your career winning the ELMS championship?
OG: “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.”
Q: Tell us more about your team, Forestier Racing by Panis, and your teammates Esteban Masson and Louis Rousset.
OG: “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.”
Q: Silverstone is your home race. What are your thoughts on the circuit, and do you have a favourite corner or sequence that you are looking forward to tackling in the Oreca 07-Gibson?
OG: “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.”
Q: Last year, Silverstone wasn’t the best event for your and the team, finishing 8th despite Esteban putting the car on pole position. What happened in last year’s race and, with the championship in mind, what would you consider to be a good result this season?
OG: “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.”
Q6: Tell us a bit more about Ollie Gray. What do you like to do when you are not racing? Do you play any sports or have any hobbies?
OG: “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.”
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ELMS CHARITY RUN
The ELMS Charity Run for the Luca Guintoli Foundation will take place on Friday 11 September at 18:50, with all proceeds going towards supporting families and children affected by cancer. Secure your spot for just £10 here.
LIVE COVERAGE ON FIAWEC+ APP
A proving ground for teams and drivers with Le Mans in their sights, the European Le Mans Series is live for free on FIAWEC+, the official home of ELMS coverage, with full race broadcasts, replays and highlights throughout the season. Stream every ELMS race for free with a FIAWEC+ account on https://plus.fiawec.com/en/european-le-mans-series
