Asian Le Mans Series: RLR MSport Claims LMP3 Victory After an Intense Battle.
The fourth race of the Asian Le Mans Series, held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, as part of the 4 Hours of Dubai, was marked by a fierce battle in LMP3. The #15 Ligier JS P320 of RLR MSport, driven by Chris Short, Nick Adcock, and Ian Aguilera, emerged victorious after a hard-fought race against the #26 Ligier JS P320 of Bretton Racing and the #49 Ligier JS P320 of High Class Racing.
A High-Stakes Start
Right from the green flag, the fight for the LMP3 lead was intense. Jens Reno Moeller, at the wheel of the #26 Ligier JS P320 of Bretton Racing, took the lead, closely followed by Mikkel Kristensen in the #43 Ligier of Inter Europol Competition. Kristensen managed to overtake Moeller and seize the top spot.
On the second lap, the #85 Iron Dames GT had to pit due to front-end damage from an incident that was not captured on camera. Meanwhile, both Optimum Motorsport GTs collided at Turn 12, damaging their cars. Race control deployed a virtual safety car to clear the debris.
Several teams took advantage of the neutralization to refuel. The #15 Ligier JS P320 of RLR MSport, with Chris Short behind the wheel, made one of its mandatory long pit stops. Once the race resumed, Alexander Bukhantsov took the LMP3 lead in the #7 Ligier JS P320 of Graff Racing and held onto the top spot after 90 minutes of racing.
A Race Full of Twists and Turns
A major upset in the championship battle occurred when the #35 Ligier of Ultimate, the LMP3 points leader, came to a stop at Turn 16, bringing out another safety car intervention. The race restarted with one hour remaining.
Ian Aguilera Makes the Difference.
The battle for the LMP3 victory came down to the #26 Ligier JS P320 of Bretton Racing, the #49 Ligier JS P320 of High Class Racing, and the #15 Ligier JS P320 of RLR MSport. Ian Aguilera, a young Mexican driver who honed his skills in the Ligier European Series over the past two seasons, put in a standout performance. He overtook Thomas Kiefer in the #49 Ligier of High Class Racing after a faster pit stop. Once in the lead, he extended the gap and crossed the finish line with a 12-second advantage over his rivals.
Ultimate Still Leads the Standings.
With this victory, RLR MSport solidified its status as a strong LMP3 title contender. The team now has 50 points, placing it fourth in the provisional standings behind Ultimate (70 points), Bretton Racing (67 points), and High Class Racing (65 points).
Next Round
The teams now turn their attention to the next round of the championship, set to take place at the Abu Dhabi circuit on the weekend of February 15-16. It will be another opportunity for competitors to score valuable points and continue the LMP3 title fight.
For more information on the Asian Le Mans Series, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for more information on the Ligier JS P320.
CLICK HERE to have more information on the Ligier JS P325, the third generation of Ligier LMP3.
Photo credit: Asian Le Mans Series