Malykhin, Bovy Welcome Challenge of Silver Upgrades

Alex Malykhin and Sarah Bovy both say they are embracing the challenge of being upgraded to Silver status in the latest FIA driver ratings following their successes in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMGT3 class this year.

U.K.-based Belorussian Malykhin was part of the LMGT3 title-winning Manthey PureRxcing crew this year, as he and his teammates in the No. 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, Joel Sturm and Klaus Bachler, won the championship with a round to spare.

Bovy was another one of the standout Bronze-rated drivers in the LMGT3 field, scoring two pole positions in the Iron Dames Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Both Malykhin and Bovy were promoted from Bronze to Silver for the 2025 season according to the FIA driver ratings that were first released in October, with their new status subsequently finalized in the final version published at the end of that month.

The move has significant implications for Malykhin, who is set to leave the WEC and focus on an LMP2 program with PureRxcing in 2025.

“I didn’t protest or anything like this,” Malykhin told Sportscar365 when asked for his thoughts on being upgraded to Silver. “I think it’s fair.

“It’s good motivation for me. I will try and improve and become one of the top Silver drivers. This one of my personal goals.”

Bovy had been in line for an upgrade to Silver status in previous years, only for this to be overturned by appeal, but the Belgian driver was equally sanguine about the prospect of losing her Bronze ranking when speaking to Sportscar365.

Although she will no longer be part of the Iron Dames lineup in WEC, with her place as the Bronze driver taken by Celia Martin, she is expected to race for the team in other series, having been confirmed as part of its Rolex 24 at Daytona lineup.

“In previous seasons, I think the situation was completely different,” Bovy told Sportscar365. “But this year, I guess the progress I have made with the support of the team has been a bit bigger.

“I welcome this new situation as a great challenge. I’ve always wanted to push my comfort zone a little bit further.

“I hope in 2025 I have the opportunity to see what I’m worth as a Silver. My ambition will not be to be an average one. It’s going to be a challenge and only the future will tell.”

Malykhin Aiming for Le Mans Slot in New LMP2 Venture

Malykhin will begin his LMP2 adventure next week in the opening round of the Asian Le Mans Series at Sepang, which he is likely to serve as a prelude to a campaign in the European Le Mans Series with the TF Sport-run PureRxcing outfit.

He then hopes the Lithuanian-flagged team will be able to gain an entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans off the back of its performances in the two ACO-run series.

“The main goal is to return to Le Mans in an LMP2 car, and try to win,” said Malykhin. “The plan is very clear: Asian Le Mans, European Le Mans and Le Mans, in LMP2.

“The LMP2 car is a car I like very much, I drove it for a couple of days and I had a good feeling, although I still have a lot of room to learn for sure.”

Malykhin will be joined in the No. 91 PureRxcing Oreca 07 for the Asian Le Mans Series season by Harry King and Louis Deletraz, with British driver King set to also partner Malykhin in the European Le Mans Series along with a to-be-named third driver.

“I worked with him [King] in Asian Le Mans two years ago [driving a Porsche 911 GT3 for Herberth Motorsport] and I really liked this experience,” said Malykhin. “I will continue to work with Harry in European Le Mans also.”

Despite his lack of LMP2 experience, Malykhin underlined his hopes of being competitive enough to fight for the LMP2 title straight away, and earn the one automatic Le Mans invite handed to the championship-winning team.

“Going to Le Mans and performing well at Le Mans is definitely my main goal for next season,” he said. “The best way to get to get an entry is to win Asian Le Mans.”

Davey Euwema contributed to this report