Algarve Pro Racing celebrated its historic podium sweep in Sunday’s Dubai race with an all-team photocell at Yas Marina. With the final result determined post-race, the #20 crew didn’t get the opportunity to celebrate with the #4 and #25 on the podium proper, but the picture above will be a special one for all concerned, believed to be the first ever 1,2,3 in international sports car racing for a private team.
The #13 Inter Europol Ligier JS P325 was in the midst of a full chassis switch on Wednesday after the team belatedly discovered (as the car made its way to the grid) on Sunday at Dubai that a Saturday incident had left a suspension mount damaged.
The car started late from the pit lane but retired from Sunday’s race.
The #23 23Events Ligier, meanwhile, escaped serious chassis damage in Louis Stern’s huge accident on Sunday at Dubai; that car is ready to roll for the weekend.
Three teams will see a driver crew switcheroo again for Yas Marina:
The #85 R-Ace GP Duqueine sees 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup race winners Fabien Michal and Pierre-Alexandre Provost return after missing Dubai, joined by 18-year-old LMP3 debutant New Zealander Zack Scoular.
And the #54 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 sees 2025 ELMS double race winners and Championship runners-up Custodio Toledo and Riccardo Agostini join Francesco Castellacci.
No decision has yet been made, DSC understands, by RD Limited on whether Fred Poordad is fit to return to the #30 car after James Sweetnam came in as a very late substitution for the back pain-afflicted American in Dubai’s double-header.
There are late changes too for the #26 Bretton Racing team as 2024 Ligier European Series Theo Micouris and Hadyn Chance reunite, replacing Lenny Ried and Lucas Fluxa
Fred Poordad is back in the paddock on Thursday after travelling for treatment for back pain in Europe. He is set to be aboard the #30 RD Limited Oreca for private testing ahead of a final decision on whether he will race in the weekend’s double-header.
United Autosports and Ponos Racing have expressed themselves happy with their new partnership, which began in Dubai.
Ponos parted ways with K2 Racing midway through the Sepang double-header, with United now providing significant technical support alongside a core Ponos Racing group that team owner Yorikatso Tsujiko intends to develop as a future all-Japanese squad.
“We went from four laps down at the start of the season in Malaysia to the lead lap in Dubai, I’d say we are happy with our choices!” a team source told DSC.
Meanwhile, with the 46-car grid pretty much at capacity in Yas Marina’s pitlane, there has been no space available to accommodate the scrutineers – instead, their station has been set up in the car park usually reserved for F1 drivers and senior officials!
