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Image: Asian Le Mans Series
Formula Racing’s Johnny Laursen at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit before the end of the first hour in the first of two races in this weekend’s Asian Le Mans Series In the first race of the two-race Asian Le Mans Series, a hurdle after hurdle repair led to a red flag.
Laursen, driving the No. 60 Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020, severely damaged the car after coming into contact with a prototype car when he was slammed into the driver’s left barrier near the turn 1 entrance before coming to a stop on the corner exit.
The safety car was called immediately, and Lawson left the scene of the accident alone.
The impact also caused significant barrier damage, causing race director Eduardo Freitas to suspend the race.
Freitas told the team by radio that the extent of the damage would result in a very long repair time for the safety car, which is why he opted for the red flag.
The #23 United Autosports Oreca 07 Gibson driven by Yasser Shahin maintained the overall lead.
Shaheen jumped to the lead on an earlier pit stop under a full-time yellow card, sparked by contact between the two LMP3 runners.
The Australian was in the pits for just 42 seconds, while the rest of the LMP2 team made one of three mandatory 100-second pit stops. That gave the Australian the race lead.
The No. 43 Europol Race Oreca driven by Charles Kruse was second.
Cruise was an early race leader in a tight opening lap, first making light contact with Rodrigo Sales’ No. 24 Nielsen Racing car at the first corner, causing Sales to spin.
Crews and Salih Yoluc’s No. 3 DKR Engineering Oreca then both passed pole-sitter Ahmad Al Harthy in 98 99 Racing Oreca before Crews managed to pass Yoluc at Turn 9 to take the race lead.
Behind them, Paul di Resta pushed 22nd United Autosports Oreca from ninth to third on the first lap.
His charge at the front was interrupted by the first safety car of the race as Kessel Racing’s Mikkel Jensen, Formula Racing’s Laursen and Alexander West’s No. 88 Garage 59 McLaren 720S GT3 came together.
When the race resumed, Di Resta quickly passed Yoluc and Cruise to take the lead, before pitting at yellow lights to give way to bronze class Jim McGuire.
Algarve Pro Racing’s John Falb was third ahead of Al Harthy and Yoluc, who was recovering from a penalty for a collision with an LMP3 car.
Torsten Kratz led the LMP3 from pole in the #11 WTM driven by Rinaldi Racing Duqueine D08 Nissan ahead of the #17 Cool Racing Ligier JS P320 Nissan driven by Adrien Chila and the #9 Graff Racing Ligier driven by Eric Trouillet.
In GTE, Mikkel Jensen took the race lead after recovering from an opening lap skirmish in the #57 Ferrari after about half an hour.
The Danish ace passed pole position Liam Talbot in the #72 HubAuto Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Talbot then held off Alfred Renner’s No. 33 Herbers-car Porsche 911 GT3 R for a long period before dropping to third, still ahead of Chandler Hull’s No. 34 Walkenhorst-car BMW M4 GT3 and Nikki Leutville’s No. 20 Herbers Porsche.
Early accidents have destroyed some GT cars. The No. 21 AF Corse Ferrari and the No. 66 Bullitt Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 were eliminated in a clash
No. 88 Garage No. 59 McLaren, No. 99 Herbers Porsche and No. 6 Hopp Team Mercedes also lost the selection.
Play will resume at 4:40 p.m. local time (7:40 a.m. ET).
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