In a thrilling display of motorsport prowess, CrowdStrike Racing by APR clinched their third Asian Le Mans Series victory of the season during Saturday’s 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi, solidifying their championship lead. But here’s where it gets controversial: while George Kurtz, Malthe Jakobsen, and Louis Deletraz celebrated their triumph, Cetilar Racing’s hopes took a hit with a non-score, leaving them 25 points behind. Can CrowdStrike seal the deal with a tenth-place finish in Sunday’s finale at Yas Marina Circuit? Only time will tell.
The race itself was a rollercoaster of strategy and drama. Heading into the final stops, the No. 4 Oreca 07 Gibson and the No. 25 Algarve Pro Racing car, driven by Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli, and Tom Dillmann, were neck-and-neck. But a sudden slowdown by leader Dillmann handed Deletraz a golden opportunity, which he seized with a 2.029-second victory over the No. 20 APR Oreca of John Falb, Mattias Kaiser, and Sami Meguetounif. And this is the part most people miss: Formula 2 graduate Meguetounif nearly closed the gap with fresher tires, but Deletraz’s experience prevailed.
RD Limited’s Fred Poordad, James Allen, and Tristan Vautier led at various stages but settled for third after a late-race pit stop. Meanwhile, Jakobsen’s strategic move during the third hour positioned CrowdStrike for success, setting the stage for Deletraz’s final charge. But was Dillmann’s dramatic slowdown a result of mechanical issues or tactical misjudgment? Let’s discuss in the comments.
In the LMP3 class, Inter Europol Competition edged out rivals CLX Racing, setting up a nail-biting title decider on Sunday. Alexander Bukhantsov, Chun Ting Chou, and Henry Cubides overcame a three-point deficit to claim victory, leaving CLX Racing with work to do. The GT class saw WRT dominate with a 1-2 finish, led by Anthony McIntosh, Parker Thompson, and Daniel Harper in the No. 69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. But did the BMWs simply outlast the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos, or was there more to their late-race surge? Share your thoughts below.
From gearbox woes for United Autosports to Cetilar Racing’s disqualification drama, the race was packed with storylines. As the season reaches its climax, one question remains: Who will emerge as the ultimate champion? Let the debate begin!
