24h Le Mans
The 2018–19 Asian Le Mans Series season comprises four 4-hour races. China is the venue for the opening round this weekend with the Agile 4 Hours of Shanghai. A 27-strong grid is expected.
The entry list for the first round of the Asian Le Mans Series season – the Agile 4 Hours of Shanghai – has just been revealed. Twenty-seven cars will line up for the only Chinese race on the calendar.
The grid will feature eight LMP2 prototypes including Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport. The reigning champions are fielding the only Oreca 05 for its Malaysian trio of drivers competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Super Season, Jazeman Jaafar, Nabil Jeffri and Weiron Tan.
The Oreca will be up against seven Ligier JS P2s from teams that are household names in Europe: United Autosports and Panis-Barthez Compétition, who will be taking part in their maiden LMP2 campaign in Asia, ARC Bratislava, Spirit of Race and Algarve Pro Racing with Harrison Newey (2017–18 champion) and Andrea Pizzitola (2018 European Le Mans Series champion).
The largest field – ten Ligier JS P3s – lines up in the LMP3 class. With United Autosports and Ecurie Ecosse/Nielsen Racing each fielding two cars, plus one from Inter Europol Competition, Europe is well represented here too. They will all attempt to wrest the crown from the grasp of 2017–18 champion Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport (two cars). The rest of the grid is made up of local outfits such as Eurasia Motorsport, R24 and Viper Niza Racing.
Five GT3s will do battle in the GT class with three marques out on the track: Aston Martin, Audi and Ferrari. The driver line-ups feature Dries Vanthoor (2017 LMGTE Am winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans), Rob Huff (2012 World Touring Car champion), and James Calado and Alessandro Pier Guidi (2017 GT world endurance champions). Four Porsche 911 GT3 Cups will contest the GT Cup. One of the teams is owned by none other than two-time (2015 and 2017) 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, Earl Bamber.
Once again, the Asian Le Mans Series will broadcast full coverage of qualifying and the races on the Asian Le Mans Series Facebook page and YouTube channel to satisfy the demand of fans all over the world.
Check out the full entry list and see the tweet below for the schedule in local times (UTC+8).
Video: Asian Le Mans Series official YouTube channel
Photo: Asian Le Mans Series – Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport will be defending the title won in 2017–18.
