Tamil cinema’s biggest stars shared a racetrack in the United Kingdom on Saturday, September 12, 2026, as Ajith Kumar competed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup at Silverstone while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay waved the ceremonial green flag to start the race. The event brought together two actors who have dominated Tamil cinema for over three decades, and their presence caught the attention of international sports commentators who compared their fame to Hollywood icons Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.
Vijay Flags Off the Michelin Le Mans Cup at Silverstone
Vijay, who took office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister after his party’s win in the May 2026 Assembly election, attended the Silverstone race as a special guest during his first official overseas visit. The Le Mans Cup organisers had announced his participation on social media, stating that the Indian actor and Chief Minister would join to support Indian drivers and officially start the Silverstone round in front of a 44-car grid.
The Chief Minister arrived in London on Friday, September 11, 2026, and reached the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire on Saturday. He inspected the track layout and safety systems before waving the green flag just past 5 PM local time. Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Public Works and Sports Development, Aadhav Arjuna, and senior officials accompanied him.
Vijay’s visit is part of a week-long UK trip aimed at attracting investments to Tamil Nadu and strengthening ties with British companies. His presence at Silverstone also connects to the state’s proposed Motor Sports City project, which he announced earlier in September 2026. The plan includes hosting Formula 1, 2, 3, and 4 races in Tamil Nadu.
Ajith Kumar Finishes 38th at Silverstone
Ajith Kumar raced for Ajith RedAnt by Virage in the LMP3 Pro/Am category, sharing the No. 16 Ligier JS P325-Toyota with French driver Romain Vozniak. The team qualified eighth in their category with a best lap of 2:04.568.
The two-hour race, held on the 5.891-kilometre Grand Prix circuit, saw Ajith’s team finish 38th overall, three laps behind the overall winner. The team did not score any points from the Silverstone round and remains on 21 points in the championship standings.
The Silverstone event was the fifth round of the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup season. The championship features LMP3, LMP3 Pro/Am, and GT3 categories, with drivers sharing cars during endurance races. The season will conclude at Portimao in Portugal in October 2026.
Ajith joined the championship for the 2026 season and has balanced his racing commitments with his acting career. The actor’s team has seen success earlier in 2026, securing a second-place finish in the 24H Series GT3 Pro-Am race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium in April.
The Viral Hug Between Vijay and Ajith
A video of Vijay running towards Ajith Kumar and hugging him at the Silverstone circuit quickly spread across social media. In the footage, Ajith waits at the circuit before Vijay approaches him, moving quickly with open arms before the two share a warm embrace. The moment marked a rare public reunion between the two stars, who have been portrayed as rivals throughout their careers.
Ajith later thanked Vijay for attending the event. Speaking ahead of the race, Ajith said:
“I am extremely thankful to the Honourable Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, for taking time off his busy schedule to come and visit us at Silverstone. We have been colleagues in the film industry for the last 34 years, and I am so happy for him in his new journey. We extended the invitation so he could see firsthand what infrastructure and logistics it takes to bring events like this to Chennai. My wish is to see us all race back home in India soon.”
Commentators Call Them India Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise
As Vijay stood on the circuit to flag off the race, sports commentators tried to explain the scale of his and Ajith’s fame to viewers unfamiliar with Tamil cinema. One commentator said:
“This is C Joseph Vijay. Another, now ex, I think film star, now involved in politics in his home. Another huge star. Think about a part of the world with a massive population and their version of Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, in the same place at the same time. That is what it is.”
Another commentator added, “Yeah, worlds colliding. Brad Pitt has been in a movie recently about Formula 1 cars and Formula 1 championships.” The two discussed the possibility of a Formula 2 film featuring Ajith, agreeing it would be “quite cool.”
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Director Venkat Prabhu and Fans React
Director Venkat Prabhu, who directed Ajith in Mankatha (2011) and Vijay in The Greatest of All Time (2024), shared his reaction to the reunion on social media. He said his heart was “super duper full” after seeing the two stars together.
Fans also responded warmly to the moment. One user on X wrote, “What an incredible Moment !!! An WHOLESOME Video !!!” Another commented, “Two legends, two successful personalities, once a rival, just a charm to watch.” A third described the occasion as “BIGGEST Day For Tamil Cinema.”
Actor Trisha Krishnan was also present at Silverstone during the weekend. She is currently in London for a film shoot and attended the circuit during the race event. Actress Radhika Sarathkumar shared a selfie with Trisha Krishnan in London and sent her wishes to Ajith Kumar before his race. Radhika later posted a video from her meeting with Ajith at Silverstone Circuit, praising his commitment to motorsport and describing him as an inspiration.
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