ALMS: COOL Racing snatches the provisional classification‘s lead from CD Sport by winning race 3 in Dubai.
4 February 2024 – The #17 Ligier JS P320 entered by COOL Racing, emerged victorious from the third race in the Asian Le Mans Series at the Dubai Autodrome ahead of CD Sport's#2 and #20 run by High Class Racing. The Swiss team scored its second victory of the season putting it in the provisional lead in the championship ahead of CD Sport.
• Friday 2 February, the #2 CD Sport Ligier JS P320 (Michael Jensen, Nick Adcock and Fabien Lavergne) was fastest in free practice 1 in 1:54.605s.
• The next day, the #26 Bretton Racing JS P320 (John Corbett, Mihnea Stefan and Julien Gerbi) topped the timesheets with a lap in 1:54.884.
• Later on, COOL Racing's #17 (James Winslow and Alex Bukantsov) took the LMP3 pole position with the best time of 1.55.118s.
• In a chaotic start, an LMP2 spun giving Douglas Khoo in the Viper Niza #65 no chance. The #65 Ligier JS P320 suffered heavy damage in the incident forcing the team to retire on the spot. CD Sport's #2 of and #58 entered by GG Classic Cars (George Nakas and Fraser Ross), which was making its debut in the series, were relegated to the bottom of the overall classification after avoiding the accident.
• Up front, the #17 COOL Racing Ligier JS P320 driven by Alex Bukhantsov got off to a flying start and built up a solid lead. But High Class Racing's #20 (Audunn Gudmundsson, Anders Fjordbach and Seth Lucas) narrowed the gap to #17 and took the lead. A late safety car allowed #26 run by Bretton Racing and driven by the 2023 JS P4 Champion in the Ligier European Series Mihnea Stefan, to become embroiled in the battle. James Winslow got behind the wheel of #17 and overtook #26 opening up a comfortable lead. Behind them, Fabien Lavergne in the #2 CD Sport caught #26. Twenty minutes before the end of the race, he moved into second spot.
• Up front, COOL Racing's#17 held on to the lead and crossed the finishing line in first place ahead of CD Sport's #2 and High Class Racing's #20. Anders Fjordbach set the fastest lap of the race in 1:56.141s.
• COOL Racing has moved ahead of CD Sport in the provisional championship classification. The Swiss team now has 66 points against 61 for its French rival.
The last two races of the Asian Le Mans Series will take place on 10 and 11 February on the Abu Dhabi circuit.
For race results, CLICK HERE.
For more information about the Ligier JS P320, CLICK HERE.