Vector Sport RLR scores points for P4 with pace and inspired strategy in Dubai

Vector Sport RLR converted pace and a series of inspired strategy calls into points in the 2025-26 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) 4 Hours of Dubai (31 January-1 February), Daniel Schneider, Jacob Abel and Vladislav Lomko finishing fourth and within view of the podium in Saturday’s race.

Bronze-graded Schneider started Race 1 from 14th but got edged as the 16-strong LMP2 field surged towards the downhill braking zone for Turn 1, slotting into 15th position once the race settled into a rhythm

He benefited from an early coming-together between the #64 Nielsen Racing and #45 Ponos Racing and then reeled in the #22 Proton Competition on the approach to his first scheduled stop on lap 22 of Dubai Autodrome.

A quick turnaround by Vector Sport RLR’s mechanics in pit lane put Schneider ahead of the #22 entry and a neatly-timed Full Course Yellow (FCY) stop to install Abel in the #70 ORECA 07-Gibson LMP2 resulted in another gain to 11th.

Schneider had a reducing 15-second deficit to the 11th-placed #43 Inter Europol Competition prior to the driver-change and Abel also pressed on, setting a fastest lap (1m49.667s) to close in on the top ten.

However, boxing moments before a mid-race neutralisation launched Vector Sport RLR from 11th to seventh on the road, and further gains were made when the pit lane opened and Abel gave way to Lomko with the Safety Car still on-track.

Third after a punchy restart, Lomko ceded several positions while struggling on ageing tyres and was P9 after a late-race Virtual Safety Car (VSC), which was initiated with approximately 42 minutes on the clock.

However, new Michelins were fitted to the #70 ORECA in what would be Vector Sport RLR’s final stop during a late-race VSC, giving Lomko a great deal of forward momentum on the sprint to the chequered flag.

He used his tyre advantage to best the #88 Proton Competition, #3 DKR Engineering, #64 Nielsen Racing and #25 Algarve Pro Racing in a series of bold overtakes that ultimately netted him, Abel and Schneider a solid fourth-place result as the sun set on Dubai.

The 2025-26 ALMS entered its second half on Sunday (1 February) and Schneider started further forward in P12, having registered a second best qualifying time of 1m52.041s.

Three spots were lost in a tentative start, but Schneider went beyond his original grid position to tenth following a swift VSC pit stop, designed to provide a broader range of strategic options later in the 240-minute race.

Under threat from the #30 RD Limited once racing resumed, he ceded position despite putting up a stout defence in the latter stages of a strong hour in the cockpit, which preceded another solid mid-race performance from Abel.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver emerged from an entertaining tussle with the #45 Ponos Racing and #44 ARC Bratislava in tenth, a Safety Car defusing the fight.

Vector Sport RLR then ascended to seventh with Lomko, who enjoyed fresh Michelin tyres at the beginning of his double stint, but positions were later lost as the grip fell away and the #70 entry ultimately rounded out the points places in tenth.

Schneider said: “The Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Dubai gave us results that don’t reflect who we are – not even close. Jacob (Abel), Vlad (Lomko) and I gave it everything, Vector Sport RLR’s mechanics never stopped hustling and the engineering crew kept pushing for every last tenth. The team is pure grit and heart!

“We know exactly where we should be and where we ended up in Dubai isn’t it, so Abu Dhabi won’t be just another race weekend, it’ll be a response. We’ll have the same team with the same work ethic but a different outcome. We’re going into the season finale stronger, sharper and hungrier to take back our place at the front, which is where we belong. I’m very proud of Vector Sport RLR and I’m grateful for the fight. Eyes forward to Abu Dhabi!”

Abel said: “There are a lot of positives to take away from the Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Dubai. Our pace in the car was excellent and we were able to use that to finish fourth in Race 1 on Saturday. I’m very excited to build on that and carry momentum straight into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.”

Lomko said: “The Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Dubai was an up and down weekend. The first race on Saturday was great because we had a nice strategy, making a good call to fit fresh tyres at the end to be classified fourth after post-race penalties were applied.

“We did the opposite in Race 2 on Sunday and were on the unlucky side on strategy, as we didn’t really have the pace on double-stinted tyres towards the end when the majority were able to push more on fresh Michelins. There was a huge gap, which left us in P10. There are lots of positives and some negatives, and we’ll focus on our pace for the season finale in Abu Dhabi.”