DKR Engineering had a double pole-setting pace matched by early race speed in both races at Dubai before electrical issues hit the #2 Duqueine on both Saturday and Sunday leaving the ELMS title-winners effectively out of the Asian LMS title hunt.
Since then the D08 has been entirely rebuilt with a new wiring loom to attempt to bottom out the issues. Race wins in preparation for the European season are not the primary objective.
Consistent running from CD Sport for both of their Ligiers sees the #3 and 27 cars atop the points table at the halfway point, and this with a team that currently has no programme beyond this weekend after struggling to find Bronze-ranked funding drivers for the European season.
The team though have made it clear the if either car takes the Championship win they would be ready to take up the automatic invitation to the Le Mans 24 Hours that comes as the prize!
Nielsen Racing’s double win in both LMP2 and LMP3 in Dubai on Sunday is an unusual occurrence but has happened before.
United Autosports have managed the feat both in Europe (ELMS) and the Asian Le Mans Series whilst Jackie Chan DC Racing too have scored double wins across two separate seasons with the team handled in Asia by both Eurasia and later by Jota.
The Konrad Motorsport Ginetta, which showed great form in Dubai’s Sunday race before retiring, is back here in Yas Marina with the same three driver crew that featured last weekend, Franz Konrad deciding to delay his return to the wheel until the planned Michelin Le Mans Cup effort in Europe with the car.
The form of Guilherme d’Oliveira in the #13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier was noteworthy in Dubai’s Sunday race, the effort not reflected by the eventual result.
James Dayson is present this weekend after missing Dubai, initially unable to travel with a COVID testing issue.
Championship Points
#27 CD Sport Ligier – 40 points
#3 CD Sport Ligier – 36 points
#8 Nielsen Racing Ligier – 25 points
#22 Rinaldi Racing Duqueiene – 24 points
#26 G-Drive Racing Ligier – 23 points
#13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier – 20 points
#72 Koiranen Kemppi Motorsport Duqueine – 12 points
#2 DKR Engineering Duqueine – 8 points
#21 Konrad Motorsport Ginetta – 4 points
