GMS Team Secures Unlikely Victory in Inaugural Asian Le Mans Cup Race
Circuit Paul Ricard, France – GMS Team clinched a surprising win in the opening race of the Asian Le Mans Cup, showcasing a strategic masterstroke amid challenging weather conditions. The two-hour race featured a dynamic mix of rain and drying conditions that tested team strategies and driver skills.
Valentino Catalano and Oscar Tunjo drove the #75 Duqueine D09-Toyota, initially trailing the #50 23Events Racing Ligier JS P325-Toyota of Giovanni Maschio. A setback for the #75 Duqueine occurred when Catalano lost a wheel at Turn 6 during the pit stop cycle. Despite this, he returned to the pits efficiently, allowing Tunjo to resume the race just one position down but nearly a minute behind Colin Queen, who had assumed driving duties of the lead car.
In a pivotal strategic decision, the #75 Duqueine opted not to switch to wet tires as rain fell with 30 minutes remaining. This bold move paid off, granting Tunjo a significant 25-second lead. Although Queen initially closed the gap at approximately 10 seconds per lap, a shift in track conditions allowed Tunjo to regain control. He overtook Queen with just 12 minutes remaining, ultimately winning by 5.434 seconds. The podium was completed by the #85 R-ace GP Duqueine of Luciano Morano and Kyuho Lee in third, ahead of both GMS Team and Bretton Racing Ligiers.
In the LMP3 class, CLX Motorsport demonstrated a commanding performance, finishing 1-2 despite early race spins by both cars. The #12 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier, piloted by Morten Stromsted, briefly led the race before Terrence Woodward took the #87 CLX Ligier to the front. In the second half, Vic Stevens faced pressure from Louis Iglesias in the sister #86 Ligier. Iglesias decisively overcame a 20-second deficit to secure victory by 6.678 seconds, with the #12 Ligier rounding out the top three.
In GT3, Herberth Motorsport’s #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, driven by Ralf Bohn and Alfred Renauer, triumphed after a fierce battle with the #10 Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo. Starting from the rear, the #10 Aston Martin’s Sebastian Moreno made notable progress, taking an early lead. However, amid changing conditions, Renauer reclaimed the lead, ultimately winning by over one minute. Esteban Gonzalez Beckmann, after a strong showing, fell to pressure from Antonio Sainero in the E2P Racing Aston Martin, losing position in the final laps.
Race 2 of the Asian Le Mans Cup is scheduled for 9:25 CEST tomorrow morning.
