Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay will wave the ceremonial green flag at the Michelin Le Mans Cup race at Silverstone on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Actor and racer Ajith Kumar is competing in the same event. The announcement has surprised fans across the world because the two stars have been at the center of a rumored rivalry for over 30 years.
Vijay to Wave Green Flag at Silverstone
The official social media accounts of the Le Mans Cup confirmed Vijay’s appearance. The organization posted that the Chief Minister will start the Silverstone round in front of a 44-car grid.
“A special guest will be waving the green flag at Silverstone this weekend! C. Joseph VIJAY. The Indian actor and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu @actorvijay, will be joining us to support our Indian drivers in the UK and officially start the #SilverstoneRound in front of the 44-car grid. We can’t wait to go racing this Saturday!” the Le Mans Cup said.
Vijay is visiting the United Kingdom for a week-long official trip. The visit focuses on securing foreign investment and studying international sports infrastructure. His delegation includes Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna. The trip also supports Tamil Nadu’s plan to build a dedicated Motor Sports City in Chennai.
Ajith Kumar Racing in LMP3 Pro/Am Category
Ajith Kumar is competing in the LMP3 Pro/Am category for Ajith RedAnt by Virage. He is sharing a Ligier JS P325-Toyota prototype with French driver Romain Vozniak. Former Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan and Aditya Patel form an all-Indian pairing for Ajith RedAnt Racing in the LMP3 class.
Ajith’s racing team shared footage from Silverstone showing drivers and crew studying the circuit. The team wrote:
“Before the cars roar, the team walks every inch of Silverstone..Reading the kerbs, the cambers, the braking zones. This is where the race really begins.”
This is not Ajith’s first time on the track. He completed a historic debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 2026, becoming the first Indian team to do so. In August 2026, he escaped unhurt after a high-speed crash during a race in Europe.
Three Decades of Rumored Rivalry Between Vijay and Ajith
Vijay and Ajith Kumar began their careers in the Tamil film industry in the 1990s. Both became huge stars with massive fan bases in Tamil Nadu and around the world. Their fans have clashed on social media and offline for years. Rival groups often call Ajith’s supporters Aamais and Vijay’s supporters Anils.
The rivalry has largely been driven by fans and media rather than any confirmed personal feud. Ajith’s wife Shalini spoke about their relationship at the JFW Movie Awards in Chennai.
“It’s a good relationship; they both are very happy for each other’s success and everything. It’s beautiful,” Shalini said.
Ajith also addressed the rivalry reports in a November 2025 audio interview.
“Some are making things up and creating a misconception between Vijay and me, resulting in fans clashing with each other. It’s better if these miscreants remain quiet … I have always wished well for Vijay,” Ajith said.
Ajith also welcomed Vijay’s Motor Sports City plan. He called it “one small step by the Tamil Nadu government, one giant leap for motorsports in India.”
Fans React to the Unexpected Union
Social media users expressed shock and excitement at the news. Many fans joked about the years of arguments between the two fan bases.
“Two generations of anil-aamais who fought for 2.5 decades, realising their whole life was a scam,” one fan wrote.
“Never imagined Ajith and Vijay fans would unite together,” another fan wrote.
“Only the rivalry group knows the value of this meet. It’s been almost 3 decades of hate & war; it’s now officially gonna end for good,” another fan added.
“Before the AK Racing and VJ TVK eras, this duo witnessed peak offline and social media fan wars. We expected this reunion much earlier, but it is happening now. So, putting hatred aside, let’s enjoy this moment,” a fan said.
How to Watch the Le Mans Cup Silverstone Round
The Michelin Le Mans Cup Silverstone round takes place on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The race starts at 5:10 PM BST. The two-hour endurance race runs on the 5.891km Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone.
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Viewers can watch the race live on the FIAWEC+ streaming platform and the Le Mans Cup official website. The event is the fifth round of the 2026 season. The season concludes at Portimao in Portugal in October.
The Michelin Le Mans Cup launched in 2016. It is an endurance racing championship that serves as a pathway for drivers aiming to reach the European Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The series features LMP3 prototype race cars and GT3 machinery.
For Indian motorsport fans, the Silverstone round offers a rare chance to see Ajith, Karthikeyan, and Patel racing on the same weekend. For Tamil cinema fans, the sight of Vijay waving the green flag while Ajith races creates a moment that few expected to see.
For more stories on the intersection of cinema, sport, and celebrity culture, keep reading VvipTimes.
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