Double shot for G-Drive Racing in Dubai
Six ORECA LMP2 chassis (4 ORECA 07s and 2 Aurus 01s) were at Dubai Autodrome this weekend for the first two races of a highly concentrated 2021 Asian Le Mans Series championship.
Although the initial schedule was somewhat disrupted by a thick layer of fog, the only qualifying session scheduled on Friday, which determined the starting order for the two races of the weekend, went normally. The two G-Drive Racing Aurus 01’s quickly became the two fastest cars in the field, with the #25 car in the lead. Both races saw a 100% G-Drive front row. Phoenix Racing’s ORECA 07 #5 secured third place on the grid for the first race, while Jota Sport’s ORECA 07 #28 started from the same third position in the second race of the weekend. In the LMP2-Am class, Era Motorsport’s ORECA 07 also set the fastest time twice.
The first of four rounds of the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series started on Saturday. Although it proved to be a tough one, the first bounce came a few minutes later due to a collision between Phoenix Racing’s ORECA 07 #5 and Jota Sport’s #28. It was finally the #26 that finally pulled through, taking the reins and never letting them go again. At the end of a nice comeback and despite a collision and a stop & go for abuse of track limits, the #28 of Jota Sport manages to offer itself a convincing second place. For its LMP2 debut, Phoenix Racing managed its race perfectly and completed the first podium of the season. In the LMP2-Am class, Era Motorsport triumphed at the end of the quarter hours of racing.
The #26 of G-Drive Racing doubled its lead on Sunday, with the #26 of G-Drive Racing taking the lead in the LMP2-Am class. Almost from start to finish, the trio of Ferdinand Habsburg – Yifei Ye – René Binder led the race. With a comfortable lead, a penalty for abuse of track limits did not prevent the winners of the first race from winning the second round with a 45-second lead over #25. G-Drive Racing thus signs a solid double! Like the day before, the #5 car from Phoenix Racing completes the podium and can look back on a great performance throughout the weekend. Racing Team India finished fourth, ahead of Era Motorsport, which won the LMP2-Am class again. For its part, Jota Sport was the victim of a collision and saw its hopes of victory destroyed: the #28 finished sixth.
With two poles, two victories and a double on Sunday, G-Drive Racing had a perfect weekend at the Dubai Autodrome. Rendez-vous on February 19 & 20 for the two races of the Championship at Yas Marina.