- Hong Kong driver confirms return to Asian Le Mans Series with Herberth Motorsport
- Au looking for GT class victory in a highly competitive 24-car grid
- Series to be held over 2 weekends starting February 11
Hong Kong racing driver, Antares Au (HKG) has confirmed his entry in the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) to be held from 11th to 19th February in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Au returns to the championship, which has become a spectacle for Le Mans style multi-class endurance racing across Asia, in hopes to improve upon his podium finish in the final race of the 2022 edition. He is set to compete in the 24-car strong GT class in the #33 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside official Porsche Driver Klaus Bachler (AUT) and Herberth team co-principal Alfred Renauer (DEU).
Following a similar championship structure to 2022, the upcoming series will be held with four 4-hour races over two weekends. Dubai Autodrome will once again kick off the ALMS, followed by 2 races at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Characteristically, the championship will see a highly competitive grid of 48 entries, including 24 GT3 cars from manufacturers Porsche, Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren. Au will be in familiar Porsche 911 GT3 R machinery, having accumulated over a dozen endurance races in this generation of racecar over recent years. The winner of the championship will receive an invitation to the 100th anniversary of the 24H of Le Mans in France this June.
Building upon the 2022 season finale triumph, Au seeks to maximize the points haul this year through consistent podium finishes at each race. The gentleman driver is no stranger to Middle Eastern circuits, with 2023 being his 7th consecutive year of endurance racing in the UAE. He fought the challenges in 2022 to bring home a nail-biting P2 trophy in the final ALMS race at Abu Dhabi.
Herberth Motorsport achieved P2 in the GT class championship standings last year, with Renauer taking back-to-back victories in the sister car in Abu Dhabi. He will be a valuable addition to the pair of Au and Bachler, who have worked well together in the past two ALMS seasons. Ahead of 2023, Au, Bachler, Renauer and the Herberth crew completed 3 days of intensive testing at both circuits in December, and are poised to deliver strong performance and teamwork to pursue a championship win.
Antares Au | #33 Driver
“I am very excited to contest the 2023 ALMS championship with Klaus, Alfred and team Herberth. This being our third ALMS together, there’s a real depth of experience and learnings to capitalize on, and wonderful chemistry among drivers and crew. We invested a lot in planning, strategy and testing over the winter, and hope to be on form right out of the box in Dubai. That said, it’ll no doubt be a nail-biting contest of will and skill with other top European teams and marques. I think everyone will have their eyes on the coveted invitation to the 100th Le Mans 24H.”
Klaus Bachler | #33 Official Porsche Driver
“This year will be the third time that I participate in the Asian Le Mans Series. I am really looking forward to this season because we have a very strong driver line-up and a really strong package with the Herberth Motorsport team. We have some great memories from last year when we finished P2 in the finale, less than a second behind P1. Of course, our aim is to do better even though I think the competition is even tougher this year. But, I am looking forward to driving in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two amazing tracks that I really like. Can’t wait to be back there in February.”
Alfred Renauer | #33 Driver and Team Co-Principal
“ALMS has been kind to us at Herberth in the past, and we’re very happy to be back in this special year coinciding with the 100th running of Le Mans. We won the GT championship in 2021 and were invited to 24H, then in 2022 finished as vice-champion. I am super excited to race this new season with Antares and Klaus. We’ve done a lot to create a really strong package across the car, drivers and crew. We are thrilled to fight again for the win this year.”
