Theodor Jensen, fresh off an LMP3 title and two wins, sat down with Motorsport Week ahead of his Road to Le Mans debut for CLX Motorsport.
The young Dane claimed title glory in the 2024-25 Asian Le Mans Series in the #26 Bretton Racing Ligier JSP320 LMP3 and also leads the European Le Mans Series LMP3 standings with his team-mates, Adrian Closmenil and Paul Lanchere, after winning both races so far for CLX Motorsport.
Now, the 18-year-old is competing this week in his first-ever Road to Le Mans event with CLX Motorsport (formerly Cool Racing). The event, part of the support bill for the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, has run for the past decade, and it’s a race Jensen dreams of stepping onto in full one day.
Jensen has made a swift and seamless transition from single-seaters into the world of endurance racing, placing himself among a strong line of Danish sportscar stars that includes Tom Kristensen, reigning Le Mans winner Nicklas Nielsen, and Peugeot Hypercar driver Malthe Jakobsen.
As he continues to impress in the European Le Mans Series with CLX Motorsport, Motorsport Week caught up with him to hear about his season so far—and his big week ahead in France.
Q: How do you reflect on the ELMS season up to this point?
“For me, it really couldn’t be any better,” he said.
“We’ve scored maximum points in the first two rounds.
“I haven’t done the big job yet – like qualifying – but I will be doing that next time at Imola.
“So, of course, there’ll be more pressure on me.
“Until now, I’ve been doing the middle stints, which are a bit easier, and not having so many laps before the race either.
“Adrian and Paul have done almost perfect jobs both weekends.
“We all did really well – drivers and team. CLX has given us a super-fast car and executed everything without mistakes.
“It’s all been very close to perfect. Things are looking very good for the rest of the season.”
Q: How was the switch from single-seaters to LMP3 for you?
“It was quite smooth. My first race was Spa in the Le Mans Cup last year.
“Before that, I had four test days in 2023 with Virage to get used to the car. The speed was good, and things felt comfortable early on.
“The biggest difference is really that you don’t drive as much as in single-seaters, since you’re sharing the car.
“You have to be ‘on it’ from the start. You don’t get much practice time, so making the most of every lap is key.
“But driving-wise, it’s not a huge shift – just heavier, more powerful, and requires a slightly different approach on throttle and braking.”
Q: How has it been working in a driver lineup rather than racing solo?
“It’s been good. Last year, I drove with Ben Stone in the Le Mans Cup. He was consistent and gave the car back in good shape.
“We won at Spa, finished P2 at Mugello, and were strong at Portimao too.
“This year with Paul and Adrian, it’s a great trio.
“Adrian and I are the same age, and we get along well, both in and out of the car. We’re all fast and we have fun – it’s a strong combo.”
Q: You became a champion in the Asian Le Mans Series. What was that season like?
“We didn’t go into it expecting to win – more as a learning experience for ELMS.
“Sepang was solid, though I didn’t drive in one race due to red flags.
“It was good for learning traffic management, especially dealing with GT cars.
“Then, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, things really clicked for us as a trio.
“We had great pace, and we ended up taking the title. It was unexpected, but an amazing bonus.”
Q: What’s it been like learning the ropes of multi-class racing?
“It’s definitely different. You always have to keep an eye behind you for LMP2 cars.
“They’re way faster, and I’ve had a few surprises with them diving past.
“But the hardest part is the GT3s. In LMP3, overtaking them is tricky because their top speed is similar.
“You have to rely on better mid-corner and exit speed.
“Timing is everything, and I’m still learning, but it’s improving each race.”
Q: You’re heading to Road to Le Mans. How are you feeling about your first time at the circuit?
“I’m really excited. I’ve never even been there as a spectator.
“I’ll stay for the full event and support CLX for the 24 hours. It’s going to be special.
“CLX was fast last year – Adrian got pole – so I know we have a good car.
“I’m hoping to learn quickly and deliver strong results.
“It’ll be my first qualifying session and race start in LMP3, so that’s exciting too.”
Q: You’ve driven both the old Ligier JS P320 and the new turbocharged JS P325. How do they compare?
“The biggest difference is the engine.
“For Road to Le Mans (and ELMS), we’re using the new Ligier JS P325, which has a (Toyota V6) turbocharged engine compared to the naturally aspirated (Nissan V8) unit in the P320 we race in ELMS.
“That means there’s some throttle lag, and you need to be more precise with your inputs on corner exits.
“Aero-wise, they feel pretty similar. The P325 punishes you more if you’re not perfect on throttle application.”
Q: You mentioned LMP2 as a next step. What will it take to make that move?
“Hopefully next year. It depends on performance and how this season goes.
“The competition in ELMS LMP2 is really tough.
“It’s not necessarily that the car is that much harder to drive, but the field is very strong, with many top-level drivers.
“I might test it later this year, which I’m looking forward to.
“It’s definitely the next step if everything aligns.
“For me, the Indy 500 and Le Mans are the two biggest races in the world.
“Le Mans is something I’ve always wanted to do.
“It’s a dream to be racing there, even in Road to Le Mans.
“Hopefully, it’s preparation for something bigger in the coming years.”
Q: What’s it like working under someone like Nico Lapierre at CLX?
“Nico is great. He’s hands-on with the team and drivers – it’s not just business for him, it’s passion.
“He treats everyone well and helps us improve. He really supports young drivers to move up, like Malthe [Jakobsen], who’s now in Hypercar.
“I’m kind of in his old seat now, as the next Danish LMP3 guy.
“I hope I can follow the same path.”
With his first qualifying session and race start at Le Mans looming, Jensen has a crucial week ahead – and perhaps a preview of a long future in top-tier endurance racing.
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