RLR MSport runner-up in 2024-25 Asian Le Mans LMP3 points after victorious Abu Dhabi showdown

RLR MSport drove itself into contention for the 2024-25 Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 Trophies by winning back-to-back races at Dubai Autodrome and Yas Marina Circuit, but the team couldn’t quite overturn its points deficit in the season-ending 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi (14-16 February).

Nevertheless, the team and drivers Chris Short, Nick Adcock and Ian Aguilera threw everything at it, significantly reducing their shortfall from 20 to seven points by racing to the top step of the podium on Saturday and second place on Sunday.

The red flags flew in response to a first-corner shunt in the first 4 Hours of Abu Dhabi, and the 1h20m halt that followed spurred officials to extend the race by a full 30 minutes.

Having dropped track position away from the original start, Short resumed in fifth but rotated the #15 Ligier JSP320 LMP3 on the second full-speed run through the Turn 5 hairpin.

The Bronze-graded Brit was then fortunate to avoid a collision with the points-leading #35 Ultimate, which had spun and taken on severe damage in a clash at the exit of the final corner.

However, Short regrouped, set personal best lap times and executed a pass for fourth on the title-contending #49 High Class Racing soon after a second Safety Car intervention.

In fact, he continued upping the pace, sensing an opportunity to overhaul the brawling #26 Bretton Racing and #34 Inter Europol Competition entries for second position.

Short eventually placed himself right at the centre of the fight, clearing the #34 machine before his truncated 30-lap stint reached its conclusion at halftime, when Adcock was placed in the hot seat.

RLR MSport worked its way to the very top of the LMP3 leaderboard on strategy and Adcock did well to set green sectors in a bid to manage a reducing lead over the championship-rivalling #26 entry as day turned to night in Abu Dhabi.

Helpfully, a Full Course Yellow (FCY) was implemented while the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) LMP3 Teams Champion was burning its final regulation timed stop and installing Aguilera.

That stroke of good fortune, combined with Adcock’s excellent mid-race efforts, ensured RLR MSport was restored in the lead once all remaining class contenders had boxed.

From there, Aguilera had everything under control out front, managing his gap over the pursuing #26 car to round-off a second consecutive Asian Le Mans win, which lifted RLR MSport to third in the LMP3 standings with a halved ten-point deficit.

On Sunday, Short held third position either side of another first-lap red flag, and the British Bronze set PBs that matched the class-leading #26 Bretton and #7 Graff Racing, until RLR MSport used a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) to minimise the impact of one of its mandated timed stops.

Racing resumed with Short in seventh because, contrary to RLR, three LMP3 entries chose not to pit during the neutralisation and time was lost in a collision that dislodged a front-end dive plane from the #15 Ligier.

Nevertheless, RLR MSport was sixth with Adcock aboard during the second hour and, seemingly unaffected by his car’s lightly damaged nose section, the South Africa-based driver ascended to fourth by passing the #43 Inter Europol Competition on the road.

Positions were briefly reversed when RLR MSport burnt another regulation stop during a second-hour FCY, but the strategy elevated the team to P1 once back up to full speed.

Adcock had the #49 High Class Racing breathing down his neck but eventually gapped his pursuer on the approach to the final driver-change to Aguilera, who stepped up with just over 90 minutes on the clock.

RLR MSport’s pit cycle was out of sequence with the opposition, but the British team was up in P2 and only 12 seconds adrift of the race-leading #49 car after its final fuel stop.

In fact, the lead order remained unchanged to the chequered flag, and a runner-up finish was enough to elevate RLR MSport to second in the definitive championship classification with a reduced deficit, the top four LMP3 teams separated by just eight points.

“It’s a shame the 2024-25 Asian Le Mans Series LMP3 titles didn’t go our way in the end, but the ten-point deficit we had going into the last race in Abu Dhabi was too big a mountain to climb,” said Adcock. “The galling part for me is that this is the third time I’ve been Asian Le Mans Series Vice-Champion.

“The engine failure in Dubai cost us dearly because, without that, we would have walked this championship. However, overall, the racing and results have been great, with two wins, one second and a fourth-place finish. Hats off to RLR MSport, which once again gave us a really strong, fast car and worked the strategy brilliantly. I’ve really enjoyed working with the team and participating in the Asian Le Mans Series this season, and a special mention to Ian (Aguilera), who is a real star of the future. He drove like a Champion and I wish him all the best.”

Short said: “Competing in the 2024-25 Asian Le Mans Series with RLR MSport has been an incredible experience. We took two race wins and a second place from four races, and I cannot be disappointed with that. Yes, we were fighting for the LMP3 championship, but it was always going to be a long shot as we arrived in Abu Dhabi. I just have to thank to entire RLR MSport team for their hard work over the last two weeks.”