Malaysian LMP2 rookie takes pole position for 4 Hours of Sepang
Nabil Jeffri and Eurasia Motorsport have claimed pole position in the Asian Le Mans Series finale!
LMP2 – Nabil Jeffri #33 Eurasia Motorsport Ligier JS P2
LMP3 – Josh Burdon in the #18 KCMG Ligier JS P3
GT – Jesse Krohn #91 FIST Team AAI BMW M6 GT3
GT Cup – Graeme Dowsett #77 Team NZ Porsche 997 Cup
In just his first ever weekend in an LMP2, Malaysia racer Nabil Jeffri has put his Eurasia Motorsport Ligier JS P2 in pole position for tomorrow’s 4 Hours of Sepang. Not only was it his first time competing in the car, Jeffri had, prior to this week, never even seen the inside of an LM P2!
Pipo Derani in the #37 BBT Ligier JS P2 will start alongside him on the front row of the grid. The next row will be filled by the Oreca 05 Nissan pair from Jackie Chan DC Racing X JOTA Sport. It was championship leading car, #8 with Stephane Richelmi behind that just beat the #7 all Malaysian entry with Jazeman Jaafar
After just 5 minutes of the session, the ARC Bratislava #4 Ligier JS P2 pulled off the track in turn 11. As a result of their problems, the team will start from the rear of the grid.
Chasing the LMP2 Bronze Cup, for entries of all bronze rated drivers, the #25 Algarve Pro Racing Ligier JS P2 Nissan will start in 12th place.
Given the very tight Championship battle for the LMP3 Class honours, and the Le Mans entry that goes with it, the extra point for pole position was even more important.
The #18 KCMG Motorsport Ligier JS P3 came into the weekend with just a one-point lead, but another class pole position for their drive Josh Burdon saw the team extend that lead to two.
Reigning LMP3 Champion, Nigel Moore, in the #65 Viper Niza Ligier JS P3 will start second, and the #6 Jackie Chan DC Racing x JOTA Sport Ligier JS P3 starting 3rd in Class. The #11 Taiwan Beer GH Motorsport Ligier JS P3 will start 4th and the #1 WIN Motorsport Ligier JS P3 will start 5th in Class.
In yet another closely fought Class Championship, it was a battle to the very end of the GT session. In the end it was Jesse Krohn in the #91 FIST Team AAI BMW M6 GT3 that claimed pole position. Just 0.2 seconds back was the #66 Audi Sport Customer Racing Asia by TSRT Audi R8 LMS with their new driver, Mitchell Gilbert behind the wheel. 3rd in class was the #90 FIST Team AAI Ferrari 488 GT3.
Leading the way in the GT Cup will be the #77 Team NZ Porsche 997 GT3 Cup.
On offer this weekend, is not just Championship glory, but also four highly coveted entries to the premier endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With all Championships still up for grabs there was everything to play for and the race looks set to be full of close, tight racing.
POLESITTER QUOTE – Nabil Jeffri #33 Eurasia Motorsport Ligier JS P2:
“I found out I had the drive on Saturday night! I am really glad I am here, and that Sepang Circuit have given me this opportunity to drive for Eurasia. They are the team I started my racing career with in Formula BMW in 2010. Thank you to Mark Goddard (Eurasia Motorsport Team Owner). I really thankful – I am a Malaysia driver, racing in my home town!
“I had not even seen the inside of an LMP2 before I arrived here this weekend. In fact I have not even raced in a sedan before! I have raced in single seaters my whole life – from Formula BMW, Formula 3 and the last two years I have done GP2.
“My main concern has been about how hot it will get in the cockpit – especially given how hot it is here. I am really happy to drive my first LMP2 with Eurasia and take my first pole!
“To be honest I was not happy with my lap – I feel there was easily a 1 second more we could have found if I had put the lap together perfectly. I must thank my team mate Marco Asmer who has helped me a lot this weekend to get used to the LMP2 and endurance racing. He made my life a lot easier and really helped to get pole position.
“We are not in the Championship battle so we will be going all out for the race win tomorrow. My team mates are very strong and the team is very strong so I really hope we can convert the pole into a race win!”
World class broadcast schedule – free, live and in full:
There will be live streaming of the race, in full, on the Series Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/AsianLMS/ and on the website www.asianlemansseries.com which will also have live timing.
