Photo : Hervé GUYOMARD - ACO

 

Pre-race - Very formal and colourful ceremony at the start of the 3 Hours of Inje, with an decked out orchestra facing the grid at the starting line. On an adjoing red carpet, local dignitaries and organizers saluted the crowd of several thousand gathered in the central grandstand, fortunately in the shade on this hot day. The race support cars joined the grid for a symbolic presentation. Each car was presented by a pretty Korean in folkloric costume holding a young child by the hand.

The start - At the green light, the LM P2 Oreca-Nissan of Richard Bradley (Eurasia Motorsport) rushed at the assault of David Cheng in the Morgan-Judd of Oak Racing. The surprise came later when the Mercedes and one of the two BMWs of the AAI-RSTRADA team passed undeterred the Ligier prototype (CN class) of Craft Bamboo Racing, then driven by Kevin Tse who prudently remained out of range of the second BMW of AAI-RSTRADA.

Mid-race update - It was just prior to mid-race that Oak Racing Total's Morgan, driven by David Cheng, seized the lead before refueling. Craft Bamboo Racing team's Ligier had stopped earlier, the victim of a brake issue, and took off again quickly, driven by its owner Franck Yu. Drivers were complaining of difficulties driving without power steering and suspension. In GT, the Mercedes of AAI-RSTRADDA was ahead of its two outfit companions six laps from the leader, while the Ligier rounded out the group at six laps from the BMW preceding it.

The finish - Diverse podium at the end of the 3 Hours of Inje, first round of the 2014 Asian Le Mans Series. Indeed with OAK Racing Total's LM P2 victory with 121 laps, facilitated by the incident of Richard Bradley's (Eurasia Motorsport) Oreca-Nissan, two GTs flanked it on the overall podium: the BMW Z4 of AAI-RSTRADA ahead of its outfit companion, the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3. The second BMW finished one lap from it twin sister. As to the CN Ligier, truly new to this event, it finished courageously but slowly after different issues including accelerator blockages causing drivers to have to brake more often than usual, which had followed brake problems at the beginning of the race. As day fell away at Inje, the grandstands emptied but the competitors, drivers and spectators deserve recognition for supporting this second season opening of the Asian Le Mans Series.

The second round of the 2014 Asian Le Mans Series will take place at the Fuji Speedway (Japan) on August 31st.

Hervé Guyomard / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: INJE PROVINCE (SOUTH KOREA), INJE SPEEDIUM, 3 HOURS OF INJE, FRIDAY JULY 18 2014, FREE PRACTICE. The Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 of the team AAI RSTRADA reached the third step of the podium at the first round of the 2014 Asian Le Mans Series won by Oak Racing Total's Morgan-Judd.