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AF Corse Ferrari wins chaotic Asian Le Mans opener
AF Corse’s No.90 Ferrari took Hypercar victory in a rain-hit Asian Le Mans Series opener, while APR and Team Qatar by Iron Lynx won their classes.
A treacherous, incident-filled start to the Asian Le Mans Series season ended with the No.90 AF Corse Ferrari 499P taking victory in the Hypercar class. Nicklas Nielsen, Yifei Ye and Luis Pérez Companc finished ahead of the sister-class No.47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari after a race shaped by rain, spins and safety interventions.
Algarve Pro Racing’s No.25 entry won LMP2, while Team Qatar by Iron Lynx took GT3 honours in a Mercedes sweep of the top four places. The result, however, adds another endurance-racing milestone for AF Corse; the team’s wider programme also features in our coverage of Robert Kubica’s WEC stint.
Wet conditions turned the race into a test of survival
The field started in cold, wet conditions, with an additional formation lap to help build tyre temperature. Several GT3 cars ran into trouble almost immediately, while spins and contact scattered incidents across the classes. Some drivers had opted for slick tyres, but the worsening weather made it difficult to generate grip.
The opening hour brought a Full Course Yellow to allow officials to clear debris. Later, a crash involving the No.70 Blackthorn Aston Martin sent the car into the barriers and out of the race. As visibility deteriorated late on, race control again neutralised the contest behind the Safety Car before a restart with 15 minutes remaining.
In Hypercar, AF Corse’s No.90 held on through the disruption. The No.47 was penalised for an incident with the No.43 Inter Europol LMP2 car, hurting its chance of challenging for the overall win. The two Ferraris ultimately crossed the line first and second.
APR and Team Qatar secure class victories
The LMP2 lead changed hands during the race, with fresh tyres helping Malthe Jakobsen move forward in the No.25 APR car. Enzo Trulli brought it home for the win despite late fuel concerns. CLX finished second, with the No.43 Inter Europol entry third. The No.2 United Autosports car, which had been running near the front late on, stopped beside pit entry with a suspected mechanical problem.
GT3’s lead also shifted repeatedly in the wet. The No.7 Petrolife Racing Mercedes reached the front late, but had to pit for fuel in the closing moments. That handed the win to the No.62 Team Qatar by Iron Lynx Mercedes, completing a Mercedes 1-2-3-4. Ferrari’s endurance results have also been in focus in WEC, including its No.83 leading Monza FP2.