Jakobsen Heads to Le Mans as Asian Le Mans Series Champion

At only 20 years old Malthe Jakobsen has already become a star of endurance racing securing the 2023/24 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 drivers title

At only 20 years old Malthe Jakobsen has already become a star of endurance racing securing the 2023/24 Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 drivers title to go with his LMP2 Vice Champions trophy in the previous season and the 2022 European Le Mans Series LMP3 title. It is no wonder he was selected by Team Peugeot TotalEnergies to be a test and development driver for the Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar project.
 
While his championship winning season in the ELMS with COOL Racing, where he became the first driver ever in the series history to post six pole position in six attempts, put Jakobsen on many team owners radar, it was the overall Asian Le Mans Series LMP2 title with Crowdstrike Racing by APR that underlined the young Dane’s speed and race craft, with two wins from five starts alongside his American teammates Colin Braun and George Kurtz.
 
While Crowdstrike Racing by APR, George Kuntz and Colin Braun will be competing together at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans after receiving an automatic invitation for winning the Asian Le Mans Series title, Malthe Jakobsen will be racing for his European Le Mans Series team COOL Racing alongside Japan’s Ritomo Miyata and Spain’s Lorenzo Fluxa.

So, what does winning the Asian Le Mans Series title mean to Malthe Jakobsen?
“It’s a great championship to be part of and to tick that box as the championship winner, it’s amazing. For me to be winning an overall title in endurance racing for the first time is something quite amazing as well.  Obviously, I won the title in LMP3, but it was only a class championship, where in LMP2 we won the Asian Le Mans Series title overall.  To be able to tick that box was a great start to 2024.”
 
The two wins in his championship winning year came in Sepang and at Yas Marina.  If he had to pick one which race would be Jakobsen’s favourite?
 
“That’s a super difficult question to answer because, just like the ELMS this year, the competition was very high.  To win the championship we knew we had to be spot on perfect every time, try to not make many mistakes and to make sure we scored points in ever race.  This was the key to make sure we were in contention for the championship.
 
“We George and Colin we had a super strong line up, with APR and Crowdstrike Racing we had a super strong car as well.  All the pieces were together to be able to create a good result and we proved that we were able to do that.
 
“To choose which race was my favourite was difficult to answer as both of the wins were amazing.”

 Will it feel a bit strange competing against your fellow champions at Le Mans this year?
 
“Of course, it will be special to be racing against one another, but they will be racing in the Pro/Am category, whereas Ritomo, Lorenzo and I will be in the Pro category.  So we will be on track together but ideally we are not in the same category and fighting for the same result.  It will be fun to see them at Le Mans.”
 
So, what is the next for Malthe Jakobsen?  Where would he like to be in the next couple of years?
 
“For sure my next goal is to make my debut in Hypercar one day. And to be able to do the World Endurance Championship and also to do the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Hypercar.  That is the next step that I hope one day I will be able to succeed and to bring some great results to prove that’s where I belong.”