AF Corse Dominates the Opening Round of the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series at Circuit Paul Ricard
Circuit Paul Ricard, France – AF Corse’s #90 Ferrari 499P clinched victory in challenging, wet conditions during the opening round of the 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series. The triumphant team, featuring Luis Perez Companc, Ye Yifei, and Nicklas Nielsen, showcased a commanding performance, finishing 6.348 seconds ahead of the field.
Race Overview
The race commenced with a dramatic start as Perez Companc seized the lead from pole-sitter Roberto Lacorte in the #47 Cetilar Racing Ferrari after Lacorte misjudged Turn 1 on the opening lap. Companc quickly established a 20-second advantage before handing over to Ye who maintained the lead amidst a Virtual Safety Car period in the second hour.
Nielsen, taking the final stint, managed to stay ahead of the #47 Ferrari, driven by Antonio Fuoco, who faced a looming five-second penalty for ignoring race directives. A late Safety Car was deployed with 37 minutes remaining due to deteriorating track conditions, but did not impede Nielsen’s progress to the finish line.
“I used to be a rally driver, so I like the rain!” Perez Companc remarked post-race. “I was trying to be cautious everywhere.”
LMP2 Results
In the LMP2 category, Algarve Pro Racing’s #25 ORECA 07 – Gibson triumphed in a nail-biting finish. Michael Jensen, Malthe Jakobsen, and Enzo Trulli navigated the treacherous conditions masterfully, allowing Trulli to save fuel during the final hour under the Safety Car, ultimately crossing the line 0.637 seconds ahead of Matthieu Vaxiviere’s #37 CLX Motorsport entry.
Notably, Giorgio Roda of the #22 United Autosports ORECA experienced an impressive opening stint, establishing a near one-minute lead. However, the timing of the final hour Safety Car hindered their overall strategy, resulting in the #22 finishing fifth.
GT3 Highlights
Team Qatar by Iron Lynx achieved a remarkable recovery in the GT3 category, with their #62 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO overcoming adversity after starting from the back of the grid. The GT3 race was characterized by multiple lead changes, notably when the #69 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 opted to pit during the Safety Car, handing advantage to the eventual winner.
The #62 Mercedes-AMG led a strong showing for the team, finishing ahead of the #9 GetSpeed entry and the #88 Craft-Bamboo Iron Lynx.
Challenges and Incidents
All categories faced difficulties due to the wet conditions, which led to several spin-outs and minor incidents. The most significant came from Giacomo Petrobelli in the #70 Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Aston Martin, who crashed after running wide on the exit of Turn 7. Petrobelli later stated, “We chose not to change tyres, which was not the right decision.”
The second race of the series is scheduled for tomorrow, starting at 13:15 CEST.
Images courtesy of Asian Le Mans Series
