First Paddock Notes From Dubai Autodrome

Wintry weather was never going to be an issue on arrival in Dubai for the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series and indeed the paddock is bathed in sunshine as the teams set up ahead of testing tomorrow at Dubai Autodrome.

47 of the 48 entries are on-site with the late arrival of the #95 TF Sport Aston Martin the only current absentee, the team’s final container having gone AWOL, but is now en route, arrival at the circuit currently predicted for tomorrow.

The team are though busying themselves with preparations for the other two Astons in their care with the #77 D’Station Vantage and #61 Evisu-branded car ready to go for tomorrow.

The #61 livery looks very effective with the Japanese jeans brand’s ‘Street’ style (pictured top and below).

There are new colours galore to savour in a packed grid with a couple of other points to note.

Nielsen Racing’s #24 ORECA looks splendid in its new gold colour scheme, the car going through scrutineering this morning.

There is a sad point to note on this car though. The car, and driver’s overalls, have featured representations of the drivers’ dogs since the switch of livery last year.

Once again the #24 features ‘Shadow’ Rodrigo Sales’ splendid Siberian Husky.

Very sadly, Shadow passed away during the off-season.  Our condolences to Rodrigo and the whole Sales family. He’ll be much missed.

DKR Engineering’s #3 ORECA marks the Luxembourgoise team’s first season entry in LMP2 in the current era.  The ‘Memo’ livery featuring on both this car and their #5 LMP3 Duqueine.

Inter-Europol Competition are here as one of four teams fielding four cars with a single LMP2 ORECA and a trio of LMP3 Ligiers.

There may be a wrinkle in the plans of the #98 99 Racing squad, multiple sources confirming that a meeting is happening today at the FIA to discuss the Bronze ranking for Felix Porteiro, the ex-GP2 and WTCC racer hasn’t driven competitively for over a decade.

Porteiro is already at the circuit together with new addition Neel Jani.

Among the other teams dealing with logistics challenges, Garage 59, with their two McLaren 720S GT3s now liveried in mirrored colour schemes, are dealing with a significant proportion of their pit equipment having suffered damage in transit, the container apparently dropped from a height at some point.

The team though are ready to go with news to come soon of a full-season effort in a different Championship than their prior normal for 2023.

HubAuto meanwhile are ready with their second season in the Series with AMG machinery, the addition to the squad just yesterday of Bathurst winner Jules Gounon alongside Aussie Liam Talbot adding fire in the belly of the effort – A third driver should be confirmed today.

The 10th anniversary livery on the appropriately numbered #10 GetSpeed AMG looks very neat and tidy, if a little less strident than the striking pink of the sister #16 car!

The second team fielding a quartet of cars is Herberth Motorsport, again previous GT class Champions, the German squad has three Porsche 911 GT3Rs (the 991.2 version) here plus a fourth cr they are preparing for the #91 Pure Racing effort.

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