Increased Prototype Field In Record 48-Car Entry

The Asian Le Mans Series has unveiled a record 48-car provisional entry list for its 2023 season.

The field is split equally between the prototype and GT ranks, with a combined 24 entries from LMP2 and LMP3 joined by a further two dozen cars in GT3.

Nine cars have been entered into the LMP2 ranks, an increase over the five entries for this year’s championship.

The leading prototype category is entirely made up of Oreca 07 Gibsons, with a two-car effort from United Autosports joined by single-car entries from DKR Engineering, Nielsen Racing, Algarve Pro Racing, Inter Europol Competition and ARC Bratislava.

European Le Mans Series regular Cool Racing enters the series for the first time, while the class is completed by new British outfit 99 Racing.

The 15-car LMP3 field is made up of three Duqueine D08 Nissans and twelve Ligier JS P320 Nissans.

New to the series are German squad WTM Racing with a single Duqueine, while Michelin Le Mans Cup squad MV2S Racing also joins the four-round championship for the first time and Cool Racing supplements its LMP2 effort with a single Ligier.

Defending class champion CD Sport returns with a two-car Ligier effort, joining multi-car entries from Graff Racing and Inter Europol Competition.

Rinaldi Racing, meanwhile, moves from the GT ranks to the LMP3 category with another Duqueine.

Seven manufacturers are represented in the 24-car GT field, with Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG leading the pack with five entries each.

BMW is represented by a single M4 GT3 for Walkenhorst Motorsport, while the previously confirmed Leipert Motorsport entry bears the flag for Lamborghini.

The German squad is one of four new teams in the class along with GetSpeed’s two-car Mercedes effort, a single McLaren 720S GT3 for British squad Orange Racing Powered by JMH and Pure Rxcing’s Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Car Guy Racing and HubAuto Racing, both class champions in previous years, rejoin the series with a Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 and Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, respectively.

The series will use the condensed, four-race schedule in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a third consecutive season.

It kicks off with a pair of races at Dubai Autodrome on February 11-12, before moving to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit for the final two rounds the following weekend.

“The Asian Le Mans Series is poised for one of its most amazing seasons yet,” said Automobile Club de l’Ouest president Pierre Fillon.

“With a record-breaking field of 48 cars in 2023, we are in for some fierce competition!

“The series is of vital importance for the ACO and the variety of marques entered this season proves just how attractive it is.

“See you on 11 February when the flag will be lowered to launch the championship!”