RLR MSport has confirmed their entry into the 2019-20 Asian Le Mans Series in the LMP2 Am Trophy with an ORECA 05 Nissan for John Farano, Arjun Maini and Andy Higgins.
Canadian racer and 2018 ELMS LMP3 Champion with RLR Farano will partner once again with his 2019 ELMS LMP2 co-driver Maini, the Indian youngster already turning heads in sportscars.
Higgins, meanwhile, is a second-generation racer from Auckland and a stalwart of New Zealand’s historic motor racing scene with form in Formula Ford, the Toyota Racing Series NZ, NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series, (where he won the 2014 and 2017-18 championships), Group C historics, and, more recently, with a third in class in the Gulf 12 Hour with a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo.
RLR will field the ex Jackie Chan DC Racing ORECA for the full four-race Series in pursuit of the entry to the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans that comes with the class Championship win.
They’ll be facing confirmed Ligier entries from Rick Ware Racing with others still in final preparation, ARC Bratislava and Algarve Pro Racing amongst the teams known to be pushing hard to join the grid with competitive entries in the class.
“The idea behind racing in the Asian Le Mans Series is to get as much driving time as possible and to win the Am Trophy to earn an entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” said Maini. “It would be good to win for John (Farano), who has improved a lot throughout the year, and I feel the class will be fair for the Bronze drivers and give a good reflection of how they’re getting on relative to each other.
“I know the ORECA 05 is a little slower than the 07 we race in the ELMS, so we will have to get our heads around the speed and the grip levels, but I think we will all be fine with that. I’m looking forward to returning to Sepang, as I have experience of the circuit from GP3 and Formula BMW and I really like Malaysia as a country, although I’ve never been to Australia and The Bend looks mega, so I’m expecting that to be a highlight.”
“I would really like to thank RLR MSport for this opportunity, as I’m really excited about joining the team in the Asian Le Mans Series,” said Higgins. “It’s going to be a big challenge and a massive learning curve, but I’m looking forward to joining John (Farano) and Arjun (Maini), who have been working strongly together in the European Le Mans Series. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’ll need to get on the pace as quickly as possible.
“The entry is getting stronger each year and the series has certainly gained a lot more traction in New Zealand and Australia, especially since The Bend Motorsport Park was added to the schedule. I will just be focused on doing my absolute best for the team, and I can’t wait to get going in Shanghai.”
RLR MSport Director of Motorsport Operations, Nick Reynolds, said: “The Asian Le Mans Series is growing in size and stature every year, and we believe there’s a lot of value in an entry. It isn’t only the calibre of the field that makes the series attractive, but the fact it’s held during the European winter months makes it a fantastic platform for teams and drivers who wish to stay fresh all year round.
“For John (Farano) and Arjun (Maini), it’s an opportunity to continue developing their skills, albeit in slightly older LMP2 machinery, in a competitive environment with all the variables of a race weekend. Of course, it’s fantastic to have Andy (Higgins) on-board; while he is yet to sample modern LMP2 machinery, he will be an asset. The aim is simple – win the Asian Le Mans Series Am Trophy and secure that automatic entry to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and gather plenty of momentum for the 2020 season.”
