24h Le Mans
Three out of four races in the 2018-19 Asian Le Mans Series have been run, so it’s a good time to take a look at the standings. A battle is raging!
United Autosports (#22 Ligier JS P2-Nissan) won the LMP2 class last weekend, a victory that puts the Anglo-American team 18 points ahead of its nearest rivals, Algarve Pro Racing (#24 Ligier JS P2-Judd). However, a win is worth 25 points and a pole position 1 point, so the game is by no means over. Having finished third in the 4 Hours of Buriram, French team Panis Barthez Compétition (#35 Ligier JS P2-Judd) also lies third in the championship, one point ahead of Swiss team Spirit of Race (#8 Ligier JS P2-Nissan) who won the 4 Hours of Shanghai.
LMP3 is just as tight, with four cars within a few points of each other. Inter Europol Competition currently (#13 Ligier JS P3) has an 8-point lead over the United Autosports #2 Ligier JS P3, which is 11 points ahead of its #3 sister car. The Ecurie Ecosse/Nielsen Racing #79 Ligier JS P3 lies fourth, trailing the leaders by 20 points.
In the GT class, the #11 Ferrari 488 GT3 fielded by Japanese outfit Car Guy has won all three races so far but hasn’t got the championship quite sewn up. Swiss team Spirit Of Race (#51 Ferrari 488 GT3) have 24 points to make up and are intent on earning them. Thanks to consistent driving and mechanical reliability, the crew has taken podium places in each race, second at Shanghai and Fuji and third at Buriram.
Much hangs on the the 4 Hours of Sepang and the battle will continue to rage on 22–24 February in what promises to be an exciting finale to the Asian Le Mans Series. The winners of the championship will receive an invitation to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15–16 June 2019.
PHOTOS: Photo (Copyright Asian Le Mans Series)
