Andrew Gilbert and Fran Rueda will be joined by McLaren Junior Driver, Benji Goethe for the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series in Optimum Motorsport’s #27 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo.
Gilbert and Rueda have previously raced together under the Altitude Racing by Optimum Motorsport banner towards the latter stages of 2023 and raced too at British GT’s blue riband event with the Wakefield-based squad for this year’s Silverstone 500
The Gilbert/ Rueda pairing claimed their first win together last summer in their first venture with Optimum at Circuit Paul Ricard, securing a Pro-Am win in the International GT Open.
2024 has seen them with Kessel Racing in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, securing podium finishes to claim third in the series’ GT3 standings.
Benji Goethe meanwhile, most recently claimed third overall in the latter of the two Fanatec GT Sprint races at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last month.
“It’s great to have Andy and Fran back with us. They were successful last year right off the back when they joined the team, and with the addition of Benji I’m looking forward to seeing what the trio can do,” said Team Principal, Shaun Goff.
McLaren Factory Driver, Tom Gamble meanwhile joins Morgan Tillbrook and Tom Ikin in the team’s #77 McLaren.
Both Tillbrook and Gamble have spent the majority of the 2024 season racing on home soil in British GT, albeit in opposing McLaren machinery. Both with a successful season in the British-based championship, claiming podium and overall finishes, they’ll be looking to carry that momentum as they venture overseas for the six-race, three weekend series.
Tom competed in the International GT Open in 2024, claiming five podium finishes throughout the season to secure a sixth-place overall finish in the series’ Pro-Am standings.
Optimum’s duo of McLarens will compete in the highly competitive GT class, a field which is made up of 28 GT3 cars from six different manufacturers, each competing for not only the championship title, but also the elusive 24 Hours of Le Mans invitation: an honour which is awarded to each of the series’ class winners.
The Asian Le Mans Series kickstarts on Thursday 5th December with the series’ private testing before the official action gets underway on Friday. Qualifying and both the races (Saturday December 7 and Sunday December 8) will be shown live on the Asian Le Mans Series YouTube channel.
Optimum Place ELMS LMGT3 Entry
Optimum have also confirmed to DSC that the have put in an entry, with drivers already signed, for the 2025 European Le Mans Series.
If approved by the Selection Committee (in an entry expected to be heavily oversubscribed), Optimum’s would be the first ever McLaren entry in the series.
