Dead Heat in LMP2 Heading into Abu Dhabi Title Decider

Cetilar Racing and CrowdStrike Racing by APR head into this weekend’s deciding Asian Le Mans Series double-header at Abu Dhabi tied on points, with five LMP2 teams still in contention for an automatic invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The AF Corse-run No. 47 Cetilar Oreca 07 Gibson and the Algarve Pro-operated No. 4 car have split all four wins between them so far, with the former taking to wins from two last December at Sepang and the latter sweeping last weekend’s 4 Hours of Dubai.

Both teams are tied on 80 points, but Cetilar trio Antonio Fuoco, Charles Milesi and Roberto Lacorte hold the advantage on countback over rivals George Kurtz, Louis Deletraz and Malthe Jakobsen by virtue of having one second place.

Algarve Pro’s No. 25 Oreca, shared by Michael Jensen, Tom Dillmann and Enzo Trulli sit third in the standings, 16 points behind with 52 still up for grabs in Abu Dhabi.

The No. 25 RD Limited and No. 2 United Autosports crews also remain in mathematical title contention, but are facing deficits of 43 and 51 points respectively.

An additional Le Mans auto-invite is also up for grabs in the GT division, with eight teams still in the running for the title heading into this weekend’s finale.

With two wins from the last three races in their Ferrari 296 GT3, the No. 74 Kessel Racing crew of Dustin Blattner, Chris Lulham and Dennis Marschall is in a strong position to seal the invite, with a 21-point buffer over their nearest opposition.

It means victory in Saturday’s opener would seal the No. 74 crew the title.

The No. 10 Manthey Porsche 911 GT3 R of Antares Au, Loek Hartog and Klaus Bachler is second with three podiums from four attempts, while the No. 9 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, No. 69 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO and No. 87 Origine Motorsport Porsche are all within 30 points of the points-leading Kessel crew.

Manthey’s No. 92 car as well as two AF Corse Ferraris, cars No. 21 and No. 54, are all outside bets with deficits of 44 points, 48 points and 51 points respectively.

The LMP3 division does not award a Le Mans auto-invite, but the battle for title honors is close, with the top four teams split by only 11 points.

CLX Motorsport Ligier trio Alexander Jacoby, Paul Lanchere and Kevin Rabin lead the standings by a single point from Inter Europol Competition Ligier drivers Alex Bukhantsov, Chun Ting Chou, and Henry Cubides Olarte.

Minor Changes Only on 46-Car Entry List

The 46-car entry list for this weekend’s 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi features only minor changes compared to last weekend’s Dubai event, with the EBM Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo still missing after its late withdrawal last time out.

In the LMP2 class, Fred Poordad is set to return to the cockpit after injury forced him out of the RD Limited Oreca he shares with James Allen and Tristan Vautier in Dubai, with James Sweetnam having been drafted in as a last-minute replacement.

However, Poordad will have to be given the all-clear by doctors to compete.

LMP3 team R-ace GP has an entirely new lineup in its Duqueine-Toyota as Fabien Michal and Pierre-Alexandre Provost return, having raced at Sepang last November, joined by a new face in the form of 18-year-old Kiwi prospect Zack Scoular.

In the GT ranks, the No. 54 AF Corse Ferrari crew welcomes Custodio Toledo and Riccardo Agostini alongside the continuing Francesco Castellacci, while SUPER GT driver Kiyoto Fujinami rejoins ‘Bankcy’ and Harry King in the No. 77 Proton Competition Porsche lineup after skipping last weekend’s Dubai round.