TEAM NEWS: Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Yifei Ye will return to the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) with the Swiss COOL Racing team, as the 2022 season kicks off at Circuit Paul Ricard on 15-17 April.
Asian squad Absolute Racing will make their ELMS debut in the LMGTE category, following a strong debut performance at the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After a sensational title win in his debut season last year, Ye will join four-time 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 winner Nicolas Lapierre and 2021 ELMS LMP3 runner-up Niklas Krütten in the #37 COOL Racing Oreca 07.
Ye made his debut as the Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver during the Asian Le Mans Series in February, competing for Herberth Motorsport in a Porsche 911 GT3 R and picking up a podium finish at the final round in Abu Dhabi. As part of a diverse programme in 2022, Ye will combine LMP2 and GT3 commitments as he works towards his goal of an LMDh drive with Porsche in 2023. Former Porsche factory driver Sascha Maassen will continue to provide Ye with support and training.
Absolute Racing is set to take on a full season of competition in Europe this year, returning to the continent after its impressive debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last August. Indonesian driver Andrew Haryanto and former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Alessio Picariello were part of the team’s line-up at the Circuit de la Sarthe, and both return for this season. The pair will be joined by Estonian racer Martin Rump in the Proton Competition-run #18 Porsche 911 RSR.
Yifei Ye, #37 Oreca 07: “We showed a lot of pace in the Prologue, topping three of four sessions, so we’re feeling good ahead of the weekend. We ran qualifying and race simulations to make sure we’re prepared, and we’ll be analysing that data in the coming days. I’m looking forward to the first race of the season, I’ve always liked the Paul Ricard circuit so we’ll keep pushing as we head into the weekend. As champion from last year, there is some pressure and eyes on me, but I can use that in a positive way. Testing suggests that we’re quick, so we’ll keep going and do our best on race day.”
Alessio Picariello, #18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR:“I’m looking forward to returning to the European Le Mans Series with Absolute Racing. I believe we can fight at the front of the field so it will be interesting to see where we stand when we get underway at Le Castellet. The team has been working hard and we have a strong driver line-up, so I’m confident we can start the season with a clean race and a positive result.”
Andrew Haryanto, #18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR:“I’m happy to be returning to Europe and getting back behind the wheel of the 911 RSR. My goal for the opening race is to ease back into the car and find my confidence, having not driven for so long. I’m looking forward to working with the team again and developing our pace as the weekend progresses. I’m really excited to start the new season and can’t wait for race day.”
Martin Rump, #18 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 RSR:“It’s great to be here at Le Castellet for the first round of the European Le Mans Series. It’s a circuit with a lot of motorsport history, and it will be special for me to feel the roar of the 911 RSR here for the first time. My main focus will be to adapt quickly, with plenty of new systems and strategies to work on. It will be important to get up to speed, find the confidence, to support my teammates and to get the ball rolling on track. The first race is always special, and I can’t wait to get it underway.”
