Asian Le Mans News: Cetilar makes it two for two in Sepang
The second round of the 2025/26 Asian Le Mans Series at Sepang International Circuit delivered another dramatic four-hour endurance battle on Sunday, December 14, heavily influenced by unpredictable Malaysian weather. After claiming victory in Saturday’s opener, Cetilar Racing’s #47 Oreca 07-Gibson crew of Roberto Lacorte, Charles Milesi, and Antonio Fuoco dominated proceedings to secure a weekend double, finishing ahead of the field when the race was red-flagged with approximately 20 minutes remaining due to torrential rain flooding the track.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
The race featured multiple interruptions, including three periods behind the Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car and two full-course yellows, as teams grappled with shifting conditions and tire strategy. Competitors were circulating on slick tires behind the Safety Car following an earlier incident when the heaviest downpour hit, rendering the circuit undriveable and prompting race control to halt proceedings prematurely.
Cetilar Racing controlled much of the race after taking the lead in the second hour. A key moment came when Antonio Fuoco overtook Tom Dillmann in the #25 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca on a restart, pulling away to build a comfortable margin—eventually over 30 seconds—before the red flag sealed their second win in as many days. Algarve Pro Racing held on for second, with the #4 Crowdstrike Racing by APR Oreca completing an identical LMP2 podium to Race 1.
LMP3: CLX Motorsport Gambles to Victory
In the LMP3 class, a bold strategy propelled CLX Motorsport’s #17 Ligier JS P325 to the top step. Driver Paul Lanchere—fresh off his European Le Mans Series title success—served the two mandatory 100-second pit stops during an early Virtual Safety Car period, a calculated risk that paid dividends as conditions evolved. The Swiss outfit capitalized to claim victory, with Lanchere sharing the podium with teammates Kevin Rabin and Alexander Jacoby.
The #71 23Events Racing Ligier finished second, ahead of the #29 Forestier Racing by VPS entry in third, rounding out a competitive class battle in the debut season for the new-generation LMP3 machinery.
GT: Kessel Racing Masters Conditions for Win
Kessel Racing secured maximum points in the hotly contested GT class, overcoming a grid penalty to triumph with their Ferrari 296 GT3. Dustin Scott Blattner made rapid early progress, climbing from 15th to third in the opening laps, before astute tire calls allowed Chris Lulham and Dennis Marschall to surge into the lead and stay there amid the chaos.
The #69 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 delivered a strong recovery after an overnight engine change addressed power issues from Race 1, with Tony McIntosh, Parker Thompson, and Dan Harper taking second. Third went to the #87 Origine Motorsport Porsche, where Bo Yuan impressed with blistering pace during a long stint, charging from 14th and briefly challenging for the lead.
The Asian Le Mans Series now heads to the United Arab Emirates for the next double-header, with the 4 Hours of Dubai scheduled for January 31 and February 1, 2026.