Driver Lineups Confirmed in Updated 36-Car Entry List

The Asian Le Mans Series has released an updated 36-car full-season entry list for the upcoming 2022 campaign including driver lineups in each of the three categories.

The total car count is down three from the initially announced 39-entry field, following the withdrawals of five entries and the addition of two new GT3 participants.

One of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs from YC Panda Racing, the Evisu Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3, the No. 54 SPS Automotive Performance Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, the No. 61 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 and the BHK Motorsport Ligier JS P320 Nissan are all absent.

The missing entries have been partially offset by the arrivals of Porsche outfit Dinamic Motorsport and Audi customer Attempto Racing.

In addition to the season entry, United Autosports will contest the two four-hour races at Yas Marina with Josh Pierson and 2018-19 Asian LMS champion Paul di Resta.

United’s commitment to the second of two consecutive Asian LMS double-header weekends in the UAE is set to bring the LMP2 grid up to five cars.

The team is forgoing the two races at Dubai Autodrome because Pierson will be turning 16, the series’ minimum allowed age for drivers, after round two but before the event at Yas Marina. United instead plans to test at Yas Marina during the Dubai round.

All of the full-season LMP2 crews except ARC Bratislava’s Bronze driver trio were previously announced. Miro Konopka, Neale Must and John Corbett will drive for the FIA World Endurance Championship team.

Most of the lineup confirmations have come in the LMP3 and GT ranks, where nine and 23 cars are now entered respectively.

Highlights in GT include reigning FIA World Endurance champion Alessandro Pier Guidi and former Mercedes-AMG driver Vincent Abril in different AF Corse Ferraris, new McLaren factory signing Marvin Kirchhofer at Garage 59, and the return of Herberth Motorsport’s reigning champions Robert Renauer, Alfred Renauer and Ralf Bohn.

Also of note, Mercedes Formula 1 chief strategist James Vowles forms part of the Garage 59 driver lineup for the British team’s debut with the McLaren 720S GT3.

The LMP3 field includes an entry for reigning LMP2 champion G-Drive Racing, which is aligning with Graff for its program in the second-tier prototype class after clinching the top-category title last year with Algarve Pro Racing.

“The 2022 Asian Le Mans Series looks set to provide thrilling racing yet again,” said Frederic Lequien, CEO of Le Mans Endurance Management and its Asian arm responsible for Asian LMS.

“The entry list looks very exciting, both in terms of the number of entries and the quality of the teams and drivers that have entered.  I wish them all well in their final preparations and look forward to seeing them on track from the 11th of February.”