Crowdstrike by APR closes on Asian Le Mans Series title with 1-2 in Abu Dhabi

The No. 4 Crowdstrike Racing by APR ORECA-Gibson team made it three wins in a row in the Asian Le Mans Series at the opening race of the season finale doubleheader in Abu Dhabi.

Louis Deletraz crossed the line to secure another 25 points, ahead of teammate Sami Meguetounif in the No. 20 APR ORECA, with RD Limited taking the final podium position at the Yas Marina circuit.

With the No. 47 Cetilar Racing ORECA failing to score any points, Crowdstrike drivers Deletraz, George Kurtz and Malthe Jakobsen just need to score one more point in tomorrow’s final race of the season to be crowned 2025-26 ALMS champions and claim the coveted invitation to the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans that goes with it.

“It was not as easy as Dubai or even Sepang. This track is very, very difficult to overtake, even though you would think with the long straights that there should be lots of opportunities to race," said Jakobsen. "But traffic is very key here under the hotel section; to find your way through safely without having contacts with other cars is very difficult, but we moved forward slowly.

“I handed over the car to Louis, and he still had to pass a couple of cars, but he drove very well today, and same for George, especially in qualifying, making progress, and qualified fourth for today and fifth for tomorrow. So, it is looking promising but as George said, it's never over until it’s over. So, we will keep our heads calm and finish it after tomorrow.”

The No. 13 Inter Europol Competition Ligier won the LMP3 category for the third time in five races, with Alex Bukhantsov, Chun Ting Chou and Henry Cudibes finishing 15s ahead of their nearest championship rivals — Paul Lanchere, Kevin Rabin and Alexander Jacoby in the No. 17 CLX Motorsport Ligier-Toyota in the four-hour race. This gives Inter Europol Competition a four point lead over CLX Motorsport going into the final race of the season.

It was a Team WRT 1-2 in the GT category with the No. 69 BMW M4 of Tony McIntosh, Parker Thompson and Dan Harper winning for the second time in a row to keep their championship hopes alive. Harper brought the car home just 6.8s ahead of the No. 28 Team WRT BMW M4, with the championship-leading No. 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari 296 of Dennis Marschall a further 9.5s behind in third.

However, because the No. 28 BMW doesn’t score championship points due a change of team name after Sepang, the No. 74 Ferrari scored 18 points and holds a 22-point lead over the No. 69 BMW going into the final race. This means Dustin Scott Blattner, Chris Lulham and Dennis Marshall need to finish eighth or higher in the second 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi race on Sunday to secure the GT title.

“Hats off to the WRT crew. They've done a phenomenal job in this championship," said Thompson. "I mean, second in Malaysia, first in Dubai, and now first in Abu Dhabi. You can't really expect more. In any other year, that would probably be what it takes to lock up the championship, not be 22 points behind it. So, we'll see tomorrow. As a famous movie quote once said, ‘So you're telling me there's a chance!’"