Le Mans ’2021 Asian Series is set to break ever with the biggest arena ever put to battle for Competition glory. 50 days before the opening race of the Competition.
36 full-term entries have already been received. The full-season temporary entry sees 17 prototypes (7 LMP2 and 10 LMP3), and 19 GT3 entries.
Returning heroes:
The four reigning Champions from the 2019/2020 season return to defend their Tournaments, with Algarve’s G-Drive Racing Champions doubling the effort this season, going to into two cars.
LMP2 Am Champions, Eurointernational will partner with Ojets Prestige Racing in the LMP2 Am class.
After making their debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 earlier this year Nielsen Racing will return again with a two-car effort to defend their LMP3 title.
Another team that made their debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, managing the ChampAuto HubAuto GT, will also return.
The 2018/2019 winners, United Autosports are ready to return after entering three LMP3s this season.
Another team that won the JOTA Championship was partnering with Jackie Chan DC Racing to win the title in the 2017/2018 Asian Le Mans Series. They have submitted one LMP2 entry and will be partnering with the editors of the Motorsport Era Series on the second entry.
LMP2
The LMP2 seven-car entry features five teams entering the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time.
Along with an effort to double up two cars from G-Drive Racing with APR comes the first ever LMP entry under an Indian license – Racing Team India – with Oreca 07 crewed by F1 racer Naran Karthikeyan, and the Arjun Maini fast, both from India – along with Malaysia managing IMSA LMP3 Champion and LMP2 racer Naveen Rao – APR ready to handle this entry as well.
Jota Sport will join Oreca in the Le Mans Asian Series under their own name for the first time, and they will also be collaborating on Era Motorsport ‘s first series effort – Kyle Tilley and Dwight Merriman as well in 07.
Phoenix Racing will make their LMP2 debut with another Oreca (this is the old Cool Racing chassis from 2020 FIA WEC), as the German skinning team looks to make the mark ahead of LMDH time is now just two seasons away! Phoenix is the first named team here of six to enter the ACO-Rules Series for the first time.
Eurointernational final – Ojets enter their Ligier JS P217, Antonio Ferrari back after handling the title winning title Rick Ware Racing LMP2 The effort last season with the first full LMP2 attempt a season at his teams in Gibson’s time of power.
LMP3
In a grid of ten cars some return, and some newcomers Le Mans Asian Series in a field in which there are no less than eight Ligier JS P320s, but which also feature the first world tour of the Ginetta G61 plus one Duqueine 08.
The Nielsen Returning Champions list two cars but have moved from Duqueine to Ligier in the off-season.
United Autosports, the 2018/19 LMP2 champions include three Ligiers with two full-name crews already announced.
Champions ELMS LMP3 RLR MSport take their Ligier to the brink after competing in LMP2 Am last year.
The longest-running entrant in the Series, Slovakia ARC Bratislava team, enters the sixth consecutive Series with the first world race of the beautiful Ginetta G61 LMP3 car.
And there are three first-timers in the class as well, Phoenix Racing adding an LMP3 string to their bow alongside their Oreca in LMP2, the Michelin Le Mans Cup ruling CD Sport brings Ligier single for Nick Adcock and Michael Jensen, and multiple and managing Michelin With Mans Cup Engineering DKR Cup makes it to Asia for the first time and currently the only Duqueine listed!
GT3
Five different GT3 markets are currently listed with one McLaren 720S GT3, two BMW M6 GT3s, three Porsche 911 GT3 Rs and then five each of an Aston Martin Vantage GT3, and a Ferrari 488 GT3s.
The Champions HubAuto Champions are back and Asian-based Absolute superteazm lists one and two separate cars as ‘TBC’ for the GT3 device they will be launching.
Along with HubAuto and Absolute in the returnees column, TF Sport returns, this time with two Vantage GT3s featuring the Oman Racing entry. A Japanese team, D’station Racing will also be back with their Aston Martin Vantage, and AF Corse will return with two Ferrari 488 GT3s.
AF Corse will also introduce entry to long-time buyers and post-champions ELMS GT Formula Racing from Denmark.
The list of newcomers is impressive, especially as it involves at least four attempts at two cars:
Walkenhorst Motorsport will come fresh from capturing the GT International Challenge Manufacturer and Drivers title last weekend in Kyalami – The Pair Range of the powerful BMW M6 GT3.
Garage 59 from the UK will bring back a pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT3s, co-owner of Team Alexander West for more in Asia following the 2018/19 LMP2 adventure.
Precote Herbert Motorsport puts the Porsches pair, the German squad building a huge reputation with success in the 24H Series and in ADAC GT Masters among other racing tracks.
Rinaldi races have been familiar with GT3 racing for several years but are now attacking the ACO Rules Series for the first time with a pair of Ferraris.
Add to that all the discussion in the Le Mans Asian Series for Inception with the Best Race and the McLaren 720S GT3 and Porsche single from Dubai-based GPX Racing, 2019 overall winners of the 24 Hours Spa and are great depth to the field from Championship Winning Teams and Blue Riband in the most impressive GT range ever collected for the Le Mans Asian Series.
2021 Asia Le Mans Series_Provisional Entry List
Travel problems See some absent controllers
The Series will miss some of the regular Asian-based appearances this season.
Many continue to have very tight travel restrictions that have made it very difficult to race this season at all not only with the logistics of leaving the home centers in trouble, but also the logistical impact and economic return home.
Changes to the register:
As previously mentioned, Le Mans Asian Series 2021 will follow a different format than it did before. Instead of four different races in four different countries spread over four months, the Series will run, in its entirety, at Yas Marina Circle in Abu Dhabi in February 2021.
The season begins with the first two races held on 5 & 6 February. The final two races will be held on 19 & 20 February. The new season will include four four x four hour races
The races are run in two different track formats, with a mix of daylight, twilight and nighttime.
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest:
“It is very positive to see such a strong Asian grid Le Mans Series. This has been a difficult year for many of our teams, but I am sure this season will be a perfect opportunity for them to race in a series of worlds, in a safe environment. I wish them every success, and look forward to watching the races in February. ”
Cyrille Taesch Wahlen, Head of the Le Mans Asian Series:
“There is no doubt that there have been many challenges this year, but it has given us the opportunity to create something different. We wanted to create a season that not only meets the same high standards we set each year, but is also financially viable and keeps travel restrictions and disputes so low. We have listened to our messengers, and they have then trusted us. I’m really looking forward to working with them to deliver what I hope is a great season! ”