Asian Le Mans Series Concludes with a Defining Triumph for Kessel Racing
The 2025 Asian Le Mans Series season came to a dramatic and rewarding conclusion at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, where consistency, strategy, and resilience ultimately defined success. At the center of the story stood Kessel Racing and its Ferrari 296 GT3 number 74, a car that delivered when it mattered most and secured both the GT Drivers’ Championship and the GT Teams’ Championship. The result marked a milestone achievement for the Swiss outfit and underscored Ferrari’s continued competitiveness in international endurance racing, particularly within the increasingly competitive GT3 landscape.
Championship Pressure at Yas Marina
Heading into the final race weekend, the GT title fight remained open, with several teams still mathematically capable of claiming the crown. Yas Marina, known for its technical layout and demanding braking zones, presented a fitting stage for a championship decider. Teams faced not only fierce on-track competition but also strategic challenges related to traffic management, tire wear, and the possibility of safety cars or red flags influencing outcomes. For Kessel Racing, the objective was clear: secure enough points across the two races to defend their advantage and avoid costly mistakes that could undo an otherwise strong season.
A Balanced Driver Lineup Delivers
Chris Lulham, Dennis Marschall, and Dustin Scott Blattner formed one of the most balanced and disciplined driver lineups in the GT field. Throughout the season, the trio demonstrated an ability to extract performance without overreaching, an approach that proved decisive in the championship finale. In Race 1 at Abu Dhabi, the Ferrari 296 GT3 number 74 finished a controlled third place, banking valuable points while staying clear of unnecessary risks. That result immediately put pressure on rival crews, forcing them into a must-attack scenario for the remaining race.
Race 2 Strategy Over Outright Results
The second race of the weekend tested teams in very different ways. While a podium finish was not required for Kessel Racing to secure the title, survival and situational awareness became paramount. The number 74 Ferrari crossed the line in ninth place, a result that may have seemed modest on paper but proved more than sufficient when combined with earlier points. This outcome highlighted the maturity of the team’s race management and its understanding of championship racing, where titles are often won through consistency rather than headline-grabbing single-race victories.
Titles and Le Mans Qualification Secured
By the end of the weekend, Kessel Racing had sealed both the GT Drivers’ and GT Teams’ Championships, finishing the season 24 points ahead of their closest rivals. Beyond the trophies themselves, the achievement carried a significant additional reward: an automatic invitation to the next edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For drivers and teams alike, Le Mans represents the pinnacle of endurance racing, and securing a guaranteed entry through championship success is a powerful validation of performance across an entire season.
A Chaotic Second Race Shapes the Final Standings
The second race at Yas Marina was not without drama. A major incident triggered a red flag, temporarily halting proceedings and reshuffling the competitive order. Fortunately, the accident resulted in no injuries, but it had a substantial impact on the race outcome. An LMP2 car was involved, along with Kessel Racing’s second Ferrari entry, the number 15 driven by Alessandro Balzan, Dylan Medler, and Memo Gidley. With both cars effectively taken out of contention, the incident underscored the unpredictable nature of endurance racing and the thin margin separating success from disappointment.
Mixed Fortunes for Ferrari’s Wider GT Contingent
Beyond Kessel Racing’s championship-winning effort, Ferrari-powered teams experienced a range of results across the final weekend. AF Corse’s Ferrari 296 GT3 number 21, piloted by Simon Mann, Darren Leung, and official Ferrari driver Alessio Rovera, delivered a solid and consistent performance. After finishing sixth in Race 1, the crew improved to fourth place in Race 2, narrowly missing out on a podium but showcasing strong race pace and reliability at a critical point in the season.
AF Corse Number 51 Shows Resilience
The AF Corse number 51 Ferrari 296 GT3, driven by official Ferrari driver Davide Rigon alongside Charly Samani and Sean Galael, experienced a more challenging weekend. After failing to finish Race 1 due to race-related issues, the team regrouped and returned for Race 2 with renewed focus. Their efforts resulted in a fifth-place finish, a respectable recovery that highlighted the depth of talent and determination within the AF Corse organization, even when circumstances do not align in their favor.
Developing Crews Gain Valuable Experience
Further down the GT field, the Amerasian Fragrance by AF Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 number 50, featuring official driver Tommaso Mosca together with Gregory Slatin Bennett and Carl Wattana Bennett, completed the weekend with finishes of 14th and 15th. While these results did not place the team among the front-runners, the race mileage and exposure gained in a highly competitive environment contributed to driver development and long-term program objectives.
Vista AF Corse Focuses on Season Completion
The Vista AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 number 54, driven by Francesco Castellacci, Riccardo Agostini, and Custodio Toledo, also focused on finishing the season strongly and collecting data for future campaigns. The crew brought the car home in 16th place in Race 1 and improved to 14th in Race 2, demonstrating incremental progress across the weekend. For teams operating in the midfield, consistent finishes play a crucial role in refining setups, strengthening driver cohesion, and preparing for subsequent championships.
Ferrari 296 GT3 Confirms Endurance Credentials
Across the season finale, the Ferrari 296 GT3 once again confirmed its credentials as a formidable endurance racing platform. Combining aerodynamic efficiency, hybrid-inspired engineering principles, and strong reliability, the car proved capable of competing at the front while also supporting customer teams across a range of performance levels. The diversity of results at Yas Marina reflected not shortcomings in the machinery but rather the competitive depth of the GT field and the fine margins separating teams.
Consistency as the Defining Championship Factor
Kessel Racing’s title-winning campaign illustrated a recurring truth in endurance racing: championships are rarely decided by individual moments alone. Instead, they are built through consistent point scoring, clean race execution, and the ability to adapt to evolving circumstances. The number 74 Ferrari did not dominate every race outright, but it remained a constant presence near the front, capitalizing on opportunities while avoiding race-ending mistakes.
A Season That Strengthens the Asian Le Mans Series
The conclusion of the Asian Le Mans Series at Yas Marina reinforced the championship’s growing reputation as a proving ground for teams, drivers, and manufacturers. With competitive grids, international participation, and the incentive of Le Mans qualification, the series continues to attract high-caliber entries.
Source Link:https://www.ferrari.com/
