A Monsoon Masterclass: Cetilar Racing Doubles Up in Rain-Shortened Sepang Thriller

The second round of the 2025-2026 Asian Le Mans Series at the Sepang International Circuit delivered a four-hour endurance race dominated, and ultimately curtailed, by the unpredictable Malaysian weather. In a Sunday spectacle that mirrored Saturday’s success, the AF Corse-run No. 47 Cetilar Racing Oreca 07-Gibson crew of Roberto Lacorte, Charles Milesi, and Antonio Fuoco showcased supreme pace and strategy, securing a dominant double victory to kick off their championship campaign.

LMP2: Cetilar’s Command Performance

While the early stages saw several LMP2 contenders jostle for position, with the #20 Algarve Pro Racing car showing early pace on slick tyres in an initial light shower, the race truly turned into a demonstration of the #47 crew’s clinical efficiency. After taking the lead in the second hour, the Oreca was virtually untouchable. A crucial moment came as Antonio Fuoco, fresh from his FIA Prize-Giving commitments, masterfully overtook Tom Dillmann in the #25 Algarve Pro Racing entry on a restart. From that point, Fuoco built a commanding lead of over 30 seconds, demonstrating the car’s speed in the dry-to-damp conditions.

The race was peppered with caution periods—three Safety Cars/Virtual Safety Cars—as teams desperately tried to predict the shifting tyre strategy in the heat and humidity. However, the final, decisive blow came with just 20 minutes remaining when a torrential downpour rendered the circuit un-drivable. Race control had no option but to red-flag the event, confirming Cetilar Racing’s second win in as many days. The podium was an exact replica of Race 1, with the #25 Algarve Pro Racing of Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli, and Tom Dillmann taking a well-earned second, followed by the #4 Crowdstrike Racing by APR car of George Kurtz, Malthe Jakobsen, and Louis Deletraz in third.

LMP3: Bold Strategy Pays Dividends

The LMP3 class witnessed a strategic masterstroke from CLX Motorsport. The No. 17 Ligier JS P325 of Paul Lanchere, Kevin Rabin, and Alexander Jacoby claimed a comfortable win by electing to serve both mandatory 100-second pit stops during a very early Virtual Safety Car period. This bold, calculated risk immediately paid off, vaulting them up the order and providing track position they would hold to the flag. They finished a 16.695 seconds clear of the #71 23Events Racing Ligier, with the #29 Forestier Racing by VPS rounding out the top three in a competitive debut weekend for the new-generation LMP3 machinery.

GT: Kessel Racing Navigates the Chaos

The LMGT3 battle was arguably the most volatile, with a significant incident eliminating the pole-sitting #66 JMR Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R and the #10 Manthey Porsche—Saturday’s on-the-road winner—in a dramatic, race-altering collision. This chaos set the stage for an impressive recovery drive from Kessel Racing.

Despite a pre-race grid penalty, the #57 Ferrari 296 GT3 was guided to victory by Dustin Scott Blattner, Chris Lulham, and Dennis Marschall. Lulham was pivotal, surging into the lead at the mid-point and building a solid 20-second cushion before handing over to Marschall, who maintained the advantage through the final neutralisation. The #69 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO claimed second after an impressive recovery from engine issues in Race 1, while the #87 Origine Motorsport Porsche completed the podium after a blistering pace from Yuan Bo in the middle stint.

Racing in the 2025/25 Asian le Mans Series resumes in Dubai on January the 31^st.