A straw poll of teams and other paddock sources in recent weeks has revealed a number of the teams planning to contest the 2024/25 Asian Le Mans Series season, with the full-time entry set to comfortably exceed 30 cars.
LMP2 could well be set for an entry that hits double figures, with AF Corse, Algarve Pro Racing and Proton Competition all indicating that there’s a high likelihood they will bring two-car efforts.
Also from the ELMS paddock Inter Europol Competition has already confirmed single-car LMP2 and LMP3 efforts and TF Sport is planning to join the fun with a single ORECA for the LMP2 Pro/Am class. Several other teams including DKR Engineering, Duqueine Team and Nielsen Racing are also in talks with potential customers.
From left field, there’s also at least one team from the ACO sphere which has indicated to DSC that it plans to enter the top class for the first time, as part of a wider foray into LMP racing.
On the other side of the coin, ELMS LMP2 stalwarts United Autosports and COOL Racing are understood, at least for now, to have opted to sit out the season.
News from LMP3 is significantly less advanced, though GRAFF previously confirmed an entry and former champion CD Sport has confirmed a single Ligier effort to DSC too. Asian LMS regular Eurasia is actively seeking drivers for a further LMP3 effort and, as noted above, Inter Europol has confirmed a pair of entries.
In GT3, both AF Corse and Proton Competition look set to field multi-car entries, with Ferrari and Porsche machinery respectively, whilst paddock sources suggest that Comtoyou Racing will commit a pair of Aston Martins with two more Aston Martins also looking likely.
Earl Bamber Motorsport looks set to enter at least one of its Porsche 911 GT3 Rs with both Winward Racing and Climax Racing already confirming plans for a pair of Mercedes AMG GT3s apiece.
Adding to the Porsche attack, Tsunami RT will enter a solo 911 and Herberth has confirmed to DSC that it is looking to return and claim a second title.
TF Sport meanwhile is currently planning to field a solo Corvette Z06 GT3.R via the third chassis it took delivery of ahead of Le Mans.
That would mark Chevrolet’s first entry in the series and see the first expansion of the British team’s programme with the GM brand beyond the FIA WEC.
This would be the first part of a wider plan for the car, as it is currently looking to take it to the ELMS next year too.
“It would mean more learning on the Goodyear tyres and the torque sensors if we take the car to ELMS, which would boost our WEC programme,” team owner Ferrier told DSC in CoTA.
Other returning GT3 teams are likely, including entries with further Ferrari 296s, plus Mercedes-AMG GT3s and McLaren GT3 EVOs.
