24h Le Mans
For many years, Japan was the main standard bearer for Asia at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, especially with Mazda’s 1991 win and the pole positions achieved by Nissan and Toyota. However, the popularity of endurance racing in China and other Far Eastern countries is stronger now than ever before. As we await the 2016–17 Asian Le Mans Series curtain-raiser in Zhuhai, China on 30 October, here is a look back at recent performances from Asian Le Mans Series teams at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Thanks to invitations bestowed upon the winners in the various classes of the Asian Le Mans Series, teams and drivers not only from China, but also Taiwan, Singapore and the Philippines have made their first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the last two editions. So far, each one has known the thrill of finishing the race.
2015: Team AAI, a Taiwanese first - A major player in the Asian Le Mans Series, Team AAI competed in its first 24 Hours of Le Mans, fulfilling the invitation earned as winner in the GT class during the 2014 Asian Le Mans Series season. The Taiwanese team entered two Porsche 911s which finished sixth and eighth in LM GTE Am. In 2016, Team AAI once again reached the top 10 in the class (ninth), this time with a Chevrolet Corvette.
2016: Clearwater Racing, from Singapore to Le Mans - Based in Singapore, the Clearwater Racing team followed the same path as Team AAI. Winner in the GT class during the 2015/16 Asian Le Mans Series season, it was granted an automatic invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Malaysian driver Weng Sun Mok, Brit Rob Bell and Japanese driver Keita Sawa gave a great performance culminating in fourth place in the LM GTE Am class.
2016: Eurasia Motorsport, a Filipino surprise - After two victories during the 2015/16 Asian Le Mans Series season with an Oreca 03 (LM P2 class) prototype, the Eurasia Motorsport team competed in its first 24 Hours of Le Mans with an Oreca 05. It was one of the notable surprises of the 84th edition: French driver Tristan Gommendy, Chinese Pu Jun Jin and Dutch Nico Pieter de Bruijn finished both in the top 5 in the LM P2 class (fifth) and in the top 10 overall (ninth).
Click here for our previous installments of this Asian saga:
Le Mans, China and Asia (1) – Towards a new era
Le Mans, China and Asia (2) - Ho-pin Tung and David Cheng, teammates and friends
Le Mans, China and Asia (3) - Thai standouts
Le Mans, China and Asia (4) - Key Chinese dates
Photo: Fourth in LM GTE Am for its first appearance in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Clearwater Racing's Ferrari 458 Italia rounded out Ferrari's fantastic combined attack finishing victor and second in the class as well.
