News

Danish team High Class Racing is happy to confirm the participation in next 2022 Asian Le Mans Series season in the LMP2 class with an Oreca 07-Gibson and Anders Fjordbach, Dennis Andersen and Kevin Weeda as drivers.

The team has been closely watching this Series for several years and finally will make its debut next season facing an intense two-week period around the UAE, with all four races being held between the 11th and the 20th of February.

There will be two races, each four hours in length, at the Dubai Autodrome and at the Yas Marina Circuit, with a mix of both night and day racing.

High Class Racing regulars Anders Fjordbach and Dennis Andersen will start their eighth campaign working together and now they are ready for this new adventure.

“I am looking forward to this new challenge in the UAE. The Asian Le Mans Series are always attractive and I think we can have a lot of fun. Dennis and I know each other very well and we have already worked together with Kevin, so it won't take long for us to connect and give our best from the first race”, said Fjordbach.

“I love new challenges and this is one I was really looking forward to. The team is now settled in this LMP2 class after many years working hard so this is the perfect scenario to test ourselves in this format of short endurance races in mixed light conditions. Can’t wait to start in Dubai!”, commented Andersen

Joining Anders and Dennis will be Kevin Weeda. The Switzerland based Californian has previously campaigned in the WEC and the 24h of Le Mans with Lotus LMP2, and frequently runs in Historic F1 including the Monaco GP. He has recently tested successfully at Paul Ricard with High Class Racing and their driver lineup on the way to 2021 Le Mans 24h.

"I am thrilled to partner Anders and Dennis for Asian LeMans. We ve had some great tests and I accompanied them at Le Mans this year. I am fortunate and grateful they nave included me in their Asian Le Mans lineup. Can't wait for the racing to begin”, added Weeda.

This programme from High Class Racing adds to its recently announced full LMP2 IMSA entry for 2022 with Anders Fjordbach and Dennis Andersen already confirmed for the new challenge in America.

“We are very happy with the expansion of our activities. Racing in the Asian Le Mans Series is crucial to start our endurance preparation for the challenges ahead in 2022. The organizers’ priority has remained to deliver exciting seasons, in a safe and cost-effective manner even facing global pandemic challenges and we are keen to contribute our bit to make next season of the Asian Le Mans Series a one to remember”, finished Gustavo Fornell, Team Coordinator.

2022 Asian Le Mans Series calendar

• Round 1 - Dubai Autodrome - February 11
• Round 2 - Dubai Autodrome - February 12
• Round 3 - Yas Marina Circuit - February 19
• Round 4 - Yas Marina Circuit - February 20

#31 Thomas Holzer (GER) – Mirco Schultis (GER)
#32 Kevin Weeda (USA) – James Rossiter (GBR) – Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA)

Race
#32 Position 5
#31 retired

The 6 Hours race of Fuji started off well for Lotus when Vitantonio Liuzzi took the lead in LMP2 class. Car #32 was in second position for half of the race. But after several contacts with competitors, a stop and go penalty and a Stewards request to change the rear end, the team lost positions in the last three hours of the race. Nevertheless, after all these incidents, the team managed to finish the race with car #32 in fifth position.

Car #31 had to retire because of a failure of the alternator. Until then, Thomas Holzer and Mirco Schultis showed a strong performance and climbed up to sixth position in LMP2 class.

All in all, it was a promising weekend for Lotus as the team is able to fight for the podium. The team is now heading to the season final in Shanghai and wants to have another good result with both cars.

Thomas Holzer, Race driver #31:
“Unfortunately, we had to retire after the alternator failed. Until then, we had a good race and showed a good performance. We have to focus now on the next and final race of the season. Hopefully we can have a better result in China.”

Vitantonio Liuzzi, Race driver #32:
“I had a good start and was first in LMP2 class for a while. But then I was hit a several times by some other cars and lost many positions. After this, I was able to make up for positions again and was back in second place. It is a shame that we did not finish on the podium but with these damages it was not possible today.”

Lotus's LMP2 team showed strong pace in qualifying for the Spa Six Hours, with works driver James Rossiter lining his No.32 car on the front row of the class grid, just 4/100ths of a second off pole. However, the Englishman was forced to start from the pitlane with one lap down due to an engine change penalty.

Rossiter fought his way back up to sixth position in the LMP2 class, but the Lotus had a coming together and had to pit for repairs. Finally, with team-mates Thomas Holzer and Mirco Schultis, the car come home 11th.

Car No.31 started fifth place with Renger van der Zande at the helm, followed by Luca Moro and Kevin Weeda. Unfortunately, an hour before the end, the car crashed out.

Renger van der Zande: “It is a great shame that we could not finish the race. Being hit from behind is hard to prevent. The pace was very good until then. There is still some improvement on all areas but the base is there. It was a weekend to learn from for the next races.”

James Rossiter: “It is a real shame that we had to start from the pit lane and were one lap down already from the start on after the engine change. We tried to stay out as long as possible, so I did three stints in order to gain some positions. We managed to unlap ourselves again and were in 6th position. It was a good run for us. Unfortunately, we couldn’t show our potential after we got the penalty, but we learned a lot as a team and I am sure that we will have a great future.”

James Rossiter and Kevin Weeda will race the Lotus branded Lola B12/80 LMP2 at Spa next month. The duo will share a second Lola designed and built LMP2 car in the second round of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Kevin Weeda has recently contested the 2012 Gulf 12 Hours at Abu Dhabi and had previously raced in historic Ferrari Formula One cars at the Ferrari Historic Challenge. Swiss domiciled Weeda has also raced and won in Radicals in both the US and Europe.

James Rossiter was test and development driver for Honda and Super Aguri in Formula One between 2005 and 2008. He was also a race winner in the 2005 British F3 series. Last year, the Briton was participating in the 1000 km race of Spa and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Lotus Evora GTE.

The Lotus LMP2 team is looking forward to the 6 Hours of Spa where the team is going to field two Lola B12/80 LMP2 cars for the very first time. The race will take place on Saturday, 5th May 2012.

Kevin Weeda: “It is an honour and a privilege to be racing with Lotus this year in the inaugural season of the FIA WEC. It’s incredible to be involved with a team as iconic as Lotus and to work with such an experienced crew. I am also fortunate to have an opportunity to co-drive with my friend James Rossiter."

James Rossiter: “It is great for my career to be back racing in the LMP2 class. Representing the legendary Lotus colours means a lot to me and I hope that we will have good results. I would especially like to thank Kevin Weeda for making this opportunity a reality.”