The 2021 Asian Le Mans Series is set to be a record-breaker with the biggest ever field set to battle for Championship glory. 50 days before the opening race of the Championship.
36 full season entries have already been received. The provisional full season entry sees 17 prototypes (7 LMP2 and 10 LMP3), and 19 GT3 entries.
Returning Champions:
All four reigning Champions from the 2019/2020 season will return to defend their Championships, with outright Champions G-Drive Racing by Algarve doubling their effort this season, entering two cars.
LMP2 Am Champions, Eurointernational will partner with Ojets Prestige Racing in the LMP2 Am class.
After making their debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 earlier this year Nielsen Racing will return once again with a two-car effort to defend their LMP3 title.
Another team that made their debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, reigning GT Champions HubAuto, will also return.
2018/2019 winners, United Autosports are set to return having entered three LMP3s this season.
Another returning Championship winning team is JOTA who partnered with Jackie Chan DC Racing to claim the title in the 2017/2018 Asian Le Mans Series. They have entered one LMP2 entry and will partner with Series debutants Era Motorsport on a second entry.
LMP2
The seven-car LMP2 entry includes five teams entering the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time.
Alongside an effort doubled up to two cars from G-Drive Racing by APR comes a first-ever LMP entry under an Indian License, Racing Team India, with an all Indian- crewed Oreca 07 crewed by ex F1 racer Narain Karthikeyan, and the rapid Arjun Maini, joined by reigning IMSA LMP3 Champion and LMP2 racer Naveen Rao, APR set to handle this entry too.
Jota Sport enters an Oreca in the Asian Le Mans Series under their own name for the first time, and will also collaborate on fellow Series first-timers Era Motorsport’s effort, Kyle Tilley and Dwight Merriman also in a 07.
Phoenix Racing make their LMP2 debut with another Oreca (this the ex Cool Racing chassis from the 2020 FIA WEC), as the crack German squad look to make their mark ahead of the LMDH era now just two seasons away! Phoenix is the first-named team here of six that enter an ACO-rules Series for the first time.
Finally Eurointernational, Ojets enter their Ligier JS P217, Antonio Ferrari back after handling the title-winning Rick Ware Racing LMP2 Am effort last season with his teams’ first full season LMP2 effort in the Gibson-powered era.
LMP3
A ten-car grid sees some returning favourites, and some Asian Le Mans Series newcomers in a field that has no fewer than eight Ligier JS P320s, but also features the world debut of the Ginetta G61 as well as a single Duqueine 08.
Returning Champions Nielsen Racing list two cars but have switched from Duqueine to Ligier in the off-season.
United Autosports, LMP2 champions in 2018/19 field a trio of Ligiers with two full crews already announced.
Past ELMS LMP3 Champions RLR MSport bring their Ligier to the fray after campaigning in LMP2 Am last year.
The Series’ longest standing entrant, Slovakian squad ARC Bratislava, enter their sixth consecutive Series with the global racing debut of the pretty Ginetta G61 LMP3 car.
And there are three first timers in the class too, Phoenix Racing adding an LMP3 string to their bow alongside their Oreca in LMP2, Michelin Le Mans Cup regulars CD Sport bringing a solo Ligier for Nick Adcock and Michael Jensen, and multiple and reigning Michelin Le Mans Cup Champions DKR Engineering heading to Asia for the first time and currently the only Duqueine listed!
GT3
Five different GT3 marques are currently listed with one McLaren 720S GT3, two BMW M6 GT3s, three Porsche 911 GT3 R and then five each of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, and Ferrari 488 GT3s.
Returning Champions HubAuto and Asian-based superteazm Absolute racing list one and two cars respectively as ‘TBC’ for the GT3 machinery that they will field.
Alongside HubAuto and Absolute in the returnees column, TF Sport return, this time with two Vantage GT3s including the Oman Racing entry. Japanese team, D’station Racing will also be back with their Aston Martin Vantage, and AF Corse will return with two Ferrari 488 GT3s.
AF Corse will also field an entry for long-time customers and ex ELMS GT champions Formula Racing from Denmark.
The list of newcomers is impressive, the more so as it includes no fewer than four two-car efforts:
Walkenhorst Motorsport will arrive fresh from clinching the International GT Challenge Manufacturer and Drivers title last weekend in Kyalami – The field a pair of the mighty BMW M6 GT3.
Garage 59 from the UK bring a pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT3s, Team co-owner Alexander West back for more in Asia after an LMP2 adventure in 2018/19.
Precote Herbert Motorsport add a pair of Porsches, the German squad building a big reputation with success in the 24H Series and in ADAC GT Masters amongst other racing avenues.
Rinaldi racing have been familiar entrants in GT3 racing for several years but now attack an ACO rules Series for the first time with a pair of Ferraris.
Add to that total the debut in the Asian Le Mans Series for Inception with Optimum Racing and the McLaren 720S GT3 and a solo Porsche from Dubai-based GPX Racing, 2019 overall winners of the Spa 24 Hours and there is huge depth to the field from Championship and Blue Riband race-winning teams in what is the most impressive GT field ever assembled for the Asian Le Mans Series.
2021 Asian Le Mans Series Provisional Entry List >>
Travel Difficulties See Some Regulars Absent
The Series will be missing some of its regular Asian based entries this season.
Many continue to face very strict travel restrictions that have made it incredibly difficult to race this season at all with not only the logistics of leaving their home bases proving problematic but also the logistics and economic impact of returning home.
Changes to the schedule:
As previously announced, the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series will follow a different format than it has done previously. Instead of four different races in four different countries spread over four months, the Series will be run, in its entirety, at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi in February 2021.
The season will start with the first two races held on the 5th & 6th of February. The final two races will be held on the 19th & 20th of February. The new season will continue to be comprised of four x four hours races
The races will be run on two different track layouts, with a mix of daylight, twilight and night-time racing.
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest:
“It is very positive to see such a strong Asian Le Mans Series grid. This year has been tough for a lot of our teams, but I am sure this season will offer them the perfect opportunity to race in a world-class series, in a safe and secure environment. I wish them all well, and look forward to watching the races in February.”
Cyrille Taesch Wahlen, CEO of the Asian Le Mans Series:
“There can be no doubt that this year has thrown up many challenges, but it has also given us the opportunity to create something different. We wanted to create a season that not only met the same high standards we set every year, but that is also financially viable and keeps travel restrictions and disruptions to a minimum. We have listened to our customers, and they have in turn put their trust in us. I am really looking forward to working with them to deliver what I hope will be a great season!”
