​     With the 2025 racing season done and dusted, we are already looking ahead to 2026. Kicking things off is the Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS), with the first races of the season taking place this weekend, December 13th and 14th. The ALMS offers a fantastic opportunity for drivers to stay sharp during the offseason for the WEC, GT World Challenge Europe, and IMSA. The series features three race weekends, each consisting of a pair of four-hour races. The season opens this weekend, at Sepang.

Who is racing this weekend?

     ​Four Ferrari Factory Drivers are set to compete at Sepang. Interestingly, Antonio Fuoco is stepping out of the GT class to join Robert Lacorte and Alpine Hypercar driver Charles Milesi in the #47 Cetilar Racing LMP2. The other three factory drivers are piloting AF Corse-run Ferrari 296 GT3s: Alessio Rovera joins Darren Leung and Simon Mann in the #21; Davide Rigon teams up with Charly Samani and Sean Gelael in the #51; and Alessandro Pier Guidi shares the #54 with Thomas Flohr and Francesco Castellacci.

What about the rest of the season?

     ​However, a question mark remains regarding the later rounds. The IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona takes place just one week before the final two ALMS weekends. It seems likely that the Daytona schedule will draw some talent away, potentially leaving us with fewer factory drivers for those rounds. The AF Corse teams that are running the three 296 GT3 will remain committed to the season, but it is possible we might see different driver lineups. Cetilar will also remain in the series. After Sepang, the series takes a seven-week break before back-to-back weekends in Dubai (31 Jan–1 Feb) and Yas Marina (7–8 Feb).

Who are the competition?

    Many of the top names in GT racing will be in this coming season of the Asian Le Mans Series. Just to call out a couple of the expected front runners, the #92 Manthey run Porsche looks to have a strong driver lineup. United is showing up to represent McLaren in the field. While many may not be familiar with the Chinese flagged team, Origine Motorsport has new Porsche factory driver Laurin Heinrich driving for them, which could make them a car to watch in the field as he is a rapid driver. Additionally, Origine Motorsport just won the 12 Hours of Malaysia last weekend at this same track proving their capability. Two of the four drivers from that race are in the lineup for this weekend.

Why do I care?

    These races are more than warm-ups. The ALMS overall GT and LMP2 champions earn automatic Le Mans entries, so the competition is ferocious. Watching Pier Guidi, Rigon, Fuoco, and Rovera dice in the humid Sepang night is the perfect antidote to the F1 off-season blues — and a reminder that Ferrari’s endurance program remains the envy of the paddock. A strong result this weekend could set these teams up with a good foundation for the Middle Eastern rounds of the season later on, and an automatic invite to Le Mans is a serious prize for the champions.

How do I watch?

     Reportedly, the whole season will be free to watch on YouTube without geoblocking. If you are new to multiclass racing, it might be helpful to look at the differences between an LMP2, an LMP3, and a GT3 car so you can quickly identify the silhouette of a car (links below). It could also be a good idea to have an entry list or spotter’s guide if one is available to be able to recognize which car is which. On the broadcast for timing and scoring, the GT class (what the Ferraris will compete in) typically will have an orange background to their numbers, LMP2 (Fuoco) will have a blue background, and the LMP3s will be a purple shade.    

    Set your alarms, grab a caffè, and enjoy some proper racing this weekend. Race 1 starts at midnight on December 14th Eastern Time in the US, Race 2 the same time the next night. Forza Ferrari!

Entry list for this weekend: https://sportscar365.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-2026-Asian-Le-Mans-Series-Provisional-Entry-List-As-At-10-Sep-2025.pdf