Lithuanian-flagged GT3 team Pure Rxcing has partnered with TF Sport for its upcoming foray into LMP2 for the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series season, DSC has learned.
This move into prototype racing, led by the 2024 FIA WEC LMGT3 champion’s stalwart driver Alex Malykhin, has been in the works for a number of months. It is the first step towards what Pure Rxcing hopes will quickly become a multi-series programme.
The decision to partner with an established and successful team like TF, Pure Rxcing owner Edgar Kochanovskij told DSC, makes sense because it will allow it to take a “shortcut” and be competitive immediately, feeding off its knowledge and experience.
Malykhin has had an eye on LMP2 for a while and told DSC at CoTA that he had recently completed a successful test at Portimão with the team prior to it filing for an Asian Le Mans Series entry, which has since been accepted.
“It was really good to get a first taste of the ORECA and the downforce,” the current FIA WEC LMGT3 points leader told DSC. “I felt comfortable quickly and am excited to race in LMP2 because it’s pure and there’s no BoP.”
The current plan, he says, is for his long-time friend and driver coach Harry King and Acura GTP driver Louis Delétraz to join him for the six-race campaign over the winter and additional testing in Portugal.
Looking further ahead Pure Rxcing hopes to get an entry into the European Le Mans Series’ LMP2 class next year too via its new partnership with TF Sport. There, King again is expected to form part of the line-up and race alongside Malykhin.
The ultimate goal for the team in the short term is to receive an invitation to Le Mans and compete for the class win via either its ELMS exploits or an invitation earned through winning the Asian Le Mans Series.
Where does this leave Pure Rxcing’s GT3 programme? The team plans to continue competing with Porsche in GT World Challenge Europe and will take part in the Dubai 24 Hours next January with Malykhin, King and Ayhancan Güven.
A WEC return is possible but is not yet confirmed and won’t necessarily feature Malykhin. It’s a similar story for the other team competing in LMGT3 with Manthey – EMA – Yassir Shahin telling DSC in Fuji that he will make a final decision on a 2025 programme in the coming weeks.
