Mazepin to Sit Out Abu Dhabi Races Due to Illness

Nikita Mazepin will sit out the final two races of the Asian Le Mans Series this weekend in Abu Dhabi, with Filipe Albuquerque replacing him at 99 Racing.

The Jordan-flagged team made the announcement on Thursday ahead of the start of pre-event testing at the Yas Marina circuit, after ex-Formula 1 racer Mazepin was taken ill on Wednesday.

Experienced FIA World Endurance Championship and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship racer Albuquerque will take Mazepin’s place alongside Louis Deletraz and Ahmad Al Harthy in the No. 99 Oreca 07 Gibson.

Albuquerque was already on-site working as a driver coach with Formula Regional Middle East racer Nikhil Bohra.

99 Racing program manager Dan Hodder said in a statement: “Nikita reported ill early on Wednesday morning and was so was instructed to stay away from the circuit whilst the team continued their preparations.

“Later on, during the evening, it was confirmed that Nikita may not be able to take part in the weekend’s schedule.

“During this time, 99 reached out to Filipe Albuquerque, who was known to be present at the circuit. Due to a host of goodwill and support, we are pleased to announce that Filipe will cover Nikita for the remaining round.

“We wish Nikita a speedy recovery and will now concentrate on the upcoming sessions leading into the weekend.”

99 Racing heads into the 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi weekend with a 20-point lead in the LMP2 standings having scored two wins from the opening three races of the season.

Deletraz and Al Harthy could wrap up the title in Saturday’s opening race if they manage to stretch a 25-point lead over 99’s nearest rivals, currently CrowdStrike Racing by APR trio George Kurtz, Colin Braun and Malthe Jakobsen.

Mazepin’s absence is not the only change on the entry list among the 13 LMP2 teams contesting the 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi.

Hertz Team JOTA WEC racer Oliver Rasmussen is set to miss the season finale, with his place in the No. 30 Duqueine Team lineup alongside John Falb and Carl Wattana Bennett taken by Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer.

Ferdinand Habsburg meanwhile returns to his Nielsen Racing seat after sitting out last weekend’s Dubai round due to his Alpine WEC testing commitments.

In the LMP3 class, Cool Racing has a new third driver in the form of Manuel Espirito Santo, who joins James Winslow and Alex Bukhantsov after they raced as a duo in Dubai.

Audi outfit Sainteloc Racing meanwhile has two new drivers for its No. 43 entry in the GT class, with Zhou Bihaung and Sean Gelael making way for Paul Evrard – who returns after skipping the Dubai race – and Florian Scholze.