The Asian Le Mans Series just witnessed a thrilling showdown in Abu Dhabi, where CrowdStrike Racing by APR clinched their third victory of the season, solidifying their championship lead. But here's where it gets controversial: could this race have been a turning point for the title contenders, or was it just a stroke of luck for the winners? Let’s dive into the action-packed 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi and explore the moments that shaped the outcome.
George Kurtz, Malthe Jakobsen, and Louis Deletraz entered the weekend tied on points with Cetilar Racing, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle. However, a non-score for the Italian team handed CrowdStrike a 25-point advantage, putting them in the driver’s seat for the championship. All they need now is a tenth-place finish in Sunday’s finale at Yas Marina Circuit to secure the title. But is it really that simple? And this is the part most people miss: the race was far from predictable, with dramatic twists that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
The contest between the No. 4 Oreca 07 Gibson and the No. 25 Algarve Pro Racing car, driven by Michael Jensen, Enzo Trulli, and Tom Dillmann, was shaping up to be a nail-biter. That is, until Dillmann’s car slowed dramatically during his in-lap, dropping him to fifth and handing Deletraz a comfortable lead he never relinquished. Deletraz crossed the finish line with a 2.029-second margin over the No. 20 APR Oreca of John Falb, Mattias Kaiser, and Sami Meguetounif. But was Dillmann’s misfortune the only reason for CrowdStrike’s victory, or was there more to it?
The RD Limited trio of Fred Poordad, James Allen, and Tristan Vautier led at various stages but ultimately finished third after Vautier’s final stop. Meanwhile, Jakobsen’s strategic move during the third hour placed CrowdStrike in contention, setting the stage for Deletraz’s takeover. With fresh tires, Deletraz swiftly overtook Theodor Jensen and pursued Dillmann, who was then in third place. Longer fuel stops and Dillmann’s troubles opened the door for CrowdStrike, but was this just strategic brilliance or a stroke of luck?
Formula 2 graduate Meguetounif closed the gap on Deletraz in the final stages with fresher tires but couldn’t make a move. Allen’s strong performance in the second hour put the RD Oreca in contention, only for a 10-second penalty to set them back. Beche, Peebles, and Mattschull finished fourth, while the delayed No. 25 APR Oreca settled for fifth. United Autosports salvaged a disappointing day with a sixth-place finish, while early leader Giorgio Roda’s No. 5 Oreca was sidelined by gearbox issues.
In the LMP3 class, Inter Europol Competition edged out CLX Racing, setting up a tense title decider on Sunday. Alexander Bukhantsov, Chun Ting Chou, and Henry Cubides secured a five-point advantage, but with a 20-point deficit, Forestier Racing by VPS still has an outside shot. The GT class saw a dominant performance by WRT, with Anthony McIntosh, Parker Thompson, and Daniel Harper leading a 1-2 finish in their BMW M4 GT3 EVO. But was this a fair fight, or did mechanical issues unfairly tilt the scales?
The GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos controlled the first half of the race, but the BMWs gained strength as the race progressed. Thompson’s strategic undercut and Farfus’s overtake sealed their victory, while mechanical dramas denied Fabian Schiller a chance to retaliate. The Kessel Ferrari 296 GT3 of Blattner, Lulham, and Marschall finished third, enjoying a clean run amidst penalties for rivals. Lulham’s bold move around Turn 9 secured third place and a 22-point championship lead, but was this a display of skill or just good timing?
As the dust settles on Race 1, one question lingers: Is CrowdStrike’s championship lead a result of strategic mastery, or did their rivals simply falter at the wrong moments? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s spark a debate!
