Trulli Convinced LMP2 Pro/Am Title Possible With APR

Enzo Trulli says he is convinced a LMP2 Pro-Am class title assault is possible this season is as he joins Algarve Pro Racing for his first European Le Mans Series campaign.

Porsche Asia Pacific Selected Driver Trulli will contest the six-round ELMS campaign at the wheel of APR’s No. 20 Oreca 07 Gibson alongside Bronze-rated driver Michael Jensen and Peugeot FIA World Endurance Championship star Malthe Jakobsen.

It follows the Italian’s campaign in the Asian Le Mans Series with the same team, which yielded third in the LMP2 standings with Trulli sharing a car with Jensen and Tom Dillmann, with a trio of second-place finishes their best results.

Trulli, the son of ex-Formula 1 racer Jarno, is keen to maintain that momentum as he tackles the ELMS for the first time starting with next week’s 4 Hours of Barcelona.

“For me Asian Le Mans was really good,” Trulli told Sportscar365. “As a rookie I think I performed quite well, and especially I learned a lot about endurance racing and about longer races, because it was the first time for me.

“The main goal was to learn and see where I was, and the base is strong both team and teammates for ELMS. We scored three podiums but actually we lost the win twice, so we know the potential was there. We were just a bit unlucky.

“I think it’s going to be tough, but it will be really interesting because there are a lot of strong lineups. The competition is maybe the highest that’s ever been, so it will not be easy, but I think with Malthe and Michael we can do well.

“Now Michael is recovering well from the crash he had at Abu Dhabi and he should be ready for next week. And I’ve known Malthe since last year because I was doing some coaching in IMSA, and he was racing there, so we have a good relationship.

“He is really quick, really strong, and he has a lot of experience, so I can learn a lot from him. We have everything we need to do well.”

On his goals for the year, Trulli added: “I think the championship is achievable.

“For sure it won’t be easy; especially No. 99 [AO by TF] has a strong lineup with three experienced drivers, plus the Bronze driver [PJ Hyett] is really quick.

“But I think we have the package to win the championship, so it has to be the goal.”

Trulli switched to sports cars in 2024 with a part-season in Italian GT before moving to Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, where he finished second overall and earned the Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver role off the back of his performances.

He will campaign GT3 machinery for Porsche this year with a program in the China GT Championship as well as selected appearances in other major races worldwide, while also tackling the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June with APR.

Reflecting on his rapid ascent up the ranks in sports car racing since his single-seater career came to an end in 2023, Trulli reflected: “I need to thank APR, Stuart and Sam [Cox] because last year they helped me a lot.

“They allowed me to 10 or 15 laps at every track, in every test. That worked out well in Asia and now we’ll see how it works in ELMS, but it was a really good opportunity.

“If I look where I was two years ago, I could never imagine to be in this position. After [2023] I nearly stopped because I had no budget, no opportunity. We found Italian GT at the last minute, and now this year to be doing Le Mans, it’s pretty amazing.

“I know there is still long a way to go, but I think I have to enjoy this moment.”