The #23 United Autosports Oreca of Josh Pierson and Paul di Resta completed a near-faultless run to win the first 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina circuit on Saturday evening but with the United team ineligible for points, the maximum 25 points for the race, and a single point for pole was more than enough for the #4 Nielsen Racing crew to secure the overall Championship title after a third consecutive maximum points haul and with a race still to run.
That means that the Nielsen Racing team have secured, for the second time in three years, an automatic invitation for the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours thanks to a pair of overall race wins at Dubai Autodrome last weekend for the #4 Oreca crew of Rodrigo Sales, Matt Bell and Ben Hanley and a second-place (but top points score in the first race at Yas Marina.
The points situation arises after United opted to test with Pierson in the days before the race meeting started at Yas Marina, to help the newly 16-year-old to prepare for the race meeting. A deal with race organisers allowed them to do so but to forego a points-scoring run as a result at the two races this weekend that will conclude the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series.
All other Championships go to the final round tomorrow evening.
Full Race Report to follow….
