More entries continue to be confirmed  for the 2017/2018 Asian Le Mans Series. The series is now up to a potential 11 entries, with just under 2 months until the first event in late October.

LMP2 Entries

Jackie Chan DC Racing Le Mans
Photo: AsLMS

The most recent announcement comes from Jackie Chan DC Racing, who will make a return to the series for the 2017/2018 season. Support for the team will be British experts Jota Sport, who field the Jackie Chan DC Racing Orecas in the World Endurance Championship. The extended partnership marks the first Asian Le Mans Series start for Jota. For 2017/2018, the team will enter 2 cars into the LMP2 class, a pair of Oreca 05s.

Eurasia Oreca
Photo: AsLMS

Eurasia Motorsport announced they will make a return to the series for 2017/2018, although without the Jackie Chan DC Racing partnership from previous years. The old Oreca 03 will be retired, and the team will run a Ligier JSP2.

Algarve Pro Ligier JSP2
Photo: AsLMS

Defending series champions Algarve Pro Racing were quick to announce their return to the series. The team will return with the championship winning Ligier JSP2. The team received an automatic invite to the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours after the championship win, finishing 32nd overall. The increased level of competition for this season will give Algarve Pro a challenging time defending their title.

ARC Bravislava Ginetta
Photo: AsLMS

LMP3 runners up ARC Bratislava step up to the LMP2 class for 2017/2018, swapping the Ginetta LMP3 for a Ligier JSP2. The team had its first run in an LMP2 Ligier JS P217 at Le Mans this year, making it to the finish in their first attempt. For the Asian Le Mans Series, they will run the Ligier JSP2 that was previously run by Krohn Racing. 2015 ELMS Champions Greaves Motorsport will provide support running the car.

BBT Ferrari 488
Photo: AsLMS

Seasoned Asian GT team Team BBT will also step up to the LMP2 class next season. BBT, who are more used to running Ferrari 488s in AsLMS and Blancpain GT Series Asia, will run a Ligier JSP2 with support from AF Corse.

LMP3

In addition to the 2 Oreca 05s in the LMP2 class, Jackie Chan DC Racing will also run a Ligier JSP3 in the LMP3 class. With automatic entries provided for LMP2 and LMP3 winning teams, and Jackie Chan DC Racing running 2 cars in the FIA WEC, we could potentially see 4-5 entries granted to the Jota run squad for the 2018 Le Mans 24 Hours. The inclusion of an LMP3 car, and consistency of Jota support through all of their entries, gives Jackie Chan DC Racing their own ladder system to develop young talent, particularly from the Asian market.

Mark Goddards Eurasia Motorsports are the second LMP2 team to also field an LMP3 car. Eurasia are another LMP team who utilise a ladder system to find and nurture young talent, and they’ll be looking at the LMP3 automatic Le Mans entry for 2018. Eurasia will field a Ligier JSP3 for 2017/2018.

WIN Motorsport will add another Ligier JSP3 to the grid. WIN previous teamed with Eurasia, running under the name Wineurasia in previous seasons. The new entry is simply WIN Motorsport and runs as a stand-alone effort.

Stéphane Sarrazin Endurance makes its first step into the sportscar world, planning to run a Ligier JSP3 in the 2017/2018 season. The move is the first step in a grand-plan of creating a ladder for young drivers, particularly in Asia, to move through the sportscar ranks, giving an alternative to the single seater market. The stated goal is to expand to Europe for 2018 and provide logistical and technical support to LMP2 and LMP1 privateer teams.

GT

Spirit of Race AsLMS
Photo: AsLMS

A single confirmed entry for the GT class so far is the Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE. Nasrat Muzayyin and Rui Aguas will pair up again for the 2017/2018 season.

Provisional Entry List

  • Jackie Chan DC Racing – Oreca 05 LMP2
  • Jackie Chan DC Racing – Oreca 05 LMP2
  • Algarve Pro Racing – Ligier JSP2 LMP2
  • ARC Bratislava – Ligier JSP2 LMP2
  • Team BBT – Ligier JSP2 LMP2
  • Eurasia Motorsport – Ligier JSP2 LMP2
  • Jackie Chan DC Racing – Ligier JSP3 LMP3
  • Eurasia Motorsport – Ligier JSP3 LMP3
  • WIN Motorsport – Ligier JSP3 LMP3
  • Stéphane Sarrazin Endurance – Ligier JSP3 LMP3
  • Spirit of Race – Ferrari 488 GTE GT

Links & Resources

Engineering student, lover of all things technical and lifelong motorsport fan. Employed in the Oil & Gas Industry, developing Major Emergency Management simulations. Owner of the best beard on the site.