In 2013, the Asian Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) both made LM P2 their main prototypes class. After French team OAK Racing became a pioneering figure back in 2013, the success of the ELMS in Europe and the spectacular development of the Asian Le Mans Series these last two seasons compelled other teams to make the big leap to Asia.

OAK Racing and Race Performance, the champions - Since 2013, LM P2 titles have been won by European teams. In 2013 in Asia, OAK Racing achieved an exceptional season, also winning at the 24 Hours and earning the LM P2 Drivers and Teams titles in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). After a second place finish in 2014 for OAK Racing, the 2016 season welcomed the arrival of Swiss team Race Performance, regular competitor in the LM P2 class at Le Mans and in the ELMS. The team emerged victorious after a remarkable duel with Eurasia Motorsport, based in the Philippines.

Algarve Pro Racing, an Asian adventure - Since its appearance in 2015 in the LM P2 class, the Algarve Pro Racing team has become an intercontinental player, with a double program in the ELMS and Asian Le Mans Series. A sign of its desire to win in the Asian Le Mans Series, the outfit based in Portugal even passed on the closing round of the 2016 ELMS season, though taking place at home, to enter two Ligier JS P2s in Asia. The cars just finished in second and third places at the opening round of the 2016/2017 season. An exciting duel between Algarve Pro Racing and the winner Jackie Chan DC Racing is shaping up for this season. They are the only two teams to enter two cars in LM P2, against Race Performance's Oreca 03R.

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

Le Mans, China and Asia (5) - From the Asian Le Mans Series to the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Le Mans, China and Asia (6) - Great Japanese firsts

Photo: After having competed in and finished its first 24 Hours of Le Mans with Nissan's support, and allowed multiple Olympic gold medal winner in track cycling Sir Chris Hoy to make his Le Mans dream come true, the Algarve Pro Racing team has doubled down in the Asian Le Mans Series with two cars entered for the 2016-2017 season.