Absolute Working on Asian LMS Entry in 24H Le Mans Bid

Photo: Porsche

Absolute Racing has laid out ambitions of taking part in next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, should it win a berth to the French endurance classic from its proposed Asian Le Mans Series effort.

Sportscar365 has learned that the Chinese team is lining up plans to contest the 2019-20 Asian LMS season with at least one Porsche 911 GT3 R, with the goal of securing an automatic invite to the 2020 running of the race.

The Asian powerhouse squad, which operates entries in Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup among other series, has long-held ambitions of competing at Le Mans, according to team principal Ingo Matter.

It last contested Asian LMS on a full-time basis in the 2015-16 season, fielding both an Audi R8 LMS and Bentley Continental GT3.

“We’re really looking into Asian Le Mans,” Matter told Sportscar365. “GTE is obviously the goal and if you can do that then it would be the way to go.

“It would be cool [to do Le Mans]. Obviously you would need to partner up with somebody or ramp up the whole operation in Europe. But it’s something that would be a nice thing to do.”

While not yet finalized, Matter said they’ve been in discussions with drivers for the program, which would gain the support of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific. 

The team holds close links to the German manufacturer through its success in the region, including recently clinching the World Challenge Asia teams’ title with the new-for-2019 GT3 model.

Matter explained Porsche is the logical choice for the program given its GTE availability.

“It’s not cheap,” he said. “There are leads and talks but not a done deal yet. But it’s definitely the aim.

“We might do some one-offs with an Audi  [as well] if it fits in the schedule. But I think it’s something also for gentleman drivers to aspire to.

“If you go to Le Mans, you have to have a GTE.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John