Cetilar Racing dominates Sepang opener with back-to-back wins in thrilling, rain-hit races – setting the pace in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Two thrilling four-hour encounters, tropical downpours, and nail-biting finishes provided everything endurance fans could hope for. And when the dust – and the spray – settled, one team stood above the rest: Cetilar Racing. The Italian LMP2 squad got every major call right in both races. They secured a dominant double at the top of the class.
Rain, Safety Cars and LMP2 Drama
Saturday’s opener delivered peak endurance drama from lights to flag. Swinging weather conditions kept strategies fluid, while four Safety Cars and two Full Course Yellows repeatedly shuffled the order.
In LMP2, the #47 Cetilar Racing entry of Charles Milesi, Roberto Lacorte and Antonio Fuoco struck early in Sepang and never let go. Fuoco took the wheel in the closing stages, building enough of a cushion to overcome a late penalty for a Full Course Yellow infringement and seal the victory. Tom Dillmann’s Algarve Pro Racing #25 and Malthe Jakobsen in the Crowdstrike by APR #4 completed the podium – just fractions of a second apart.
Chaos in LMP3 – Inter Europol’s Comeback Win
The LMP3 field saw early chaos as a multi-car tangle in Turn 2 wiped out half the grid. From the back, Inter Europol Competition launched an inspired recovery drive. Henry Cubides brought the #13 Ligier JS P320 home first – just 0.218 seconds ahead – giving the Polish outfit an emotional class victory.
The GT class produced one of the most intense battles in recent ALMS memory, with Porsche, AMG, and Aston Martin locked in relentless combat. A dramatic final-corner clash between Loek Hartog’s Manthey EMA Porsche (#10) and Fabien Schiller’s Getspeed Mercedes-AMG (#9) initially handed Hartog the win, but a post-race penalty reversed the result. Getspeed was declared the victor, with Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn completing the podium.
A Perfect Weekend for Cetilar
Sunday’s second race brought even trickier conditions – tropical storms, changing grip, and ultimately a red flag with 20 minutes to go. Once again, Cetilar Racing judged the weather to perfection. Fuoco, Lacorte, and Milesi delivered a carbon-copy victory ahead of Algarve Pro Racing (#25) and Crowdstrike by APR (#4), repeating Saturday’s podium in full.
This time, the LMP3 honours went to CLX Motorsport. Paul Lanchere’s clever use of an early Safety Car allowed the team to complete both mandatory stops in one swooo. A move that paid off handsomely later. Alongside Kevin Rabin and Alexander Jacoby, Lanchere celebrated CLX’s first win of the season. 23-Events Racing (#71) and Forestier Racing by VPS (#29) rounded out the top three.
GT: Kessel Racing Hits the Mark
In GT, Kessel Racing made a statement of intent with a sensational comeback triumph. A bold tyre call helped Dustin Scott Blattner charge from 15th on the grid to the front. He turned inspired strategy into victory alongside Chris Lulham and Dennis Marschall.
Team WRT (#69) took second after an overnight engine change in their BMW. Origine Motorsport (#87) completed the podium with a spirited recovery of their own in the Porsche.
The Sepang season opener captured everything that makes the Asian Le Mans Series so compelling. From tight battles, capricious weather to deep strategic brilliance. With a flawless double win, Cetilar Racing has laid down an early marker in the LMP2 championship race. Next stop: the desert challenge of Dubai, January 31 & February 1.
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