As FormulaUno.it reports, the 2026-2027 Asian Le Mans Series will feature two Ferrari 499P machines in the Hypercar class, with Cetilar Racing entering one and AF Corse fielding the other while also providing technical support to both squads. This move confirms the presence of the Prancing Horse and the WEC's premier category in the Asian series, which has been renamed "Winter" because the Middle Eastern conflict forced the ACO to reorganize the championship into a six-race calendar consisting of two races per weekend at Le Castellet, Jerez, and Portimao.
The #47 entry from Cetilar Racing will be driven by Roberto Lacorte and Nicola Lacorte, alongside factory driver Antonio Fuoco. Meanwhile, the #90 car is confirmed with Nicklas Nielsen, Ye Yifei, and the 54-year-old Argentine amateur Luis Perez Companc behind the wheel. While doubts previously surrounded the actual participation of Hypercars in the Winter Asian Le Mans Series, this announcement solidifies the presence of the Ferrari 499Ps backed by Amato Ferrari's organization. Regulations require every lineup to include a bronze-rated amateur, mirroring the established rules in LMP2 and LMGT3.
Roberto Lacorte has long desired this opportunity, and the inclusion of the category for the 2026-2027 edition provided the perfect opening to run a team alongside his son Nicola, who is coming off his second year in F3 with DAMS, highlighted by a victory in the Monza Feature Race. Joining the father-and-son duo is 24 Hours of Le Mans 2024 winner Antonio Fuoco, who will compete in the 6 Hours of Monza—the final WEC round—just a week before the season starts at Paul Ricard on November 14-15. The trio already shares cockpit experience, having tackled the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona in a 296 GT3 within the GTD class, alongside Lorenzo Patrese, with whom Lacorte Jr. and Fuoco also raced at Indianapolis.
"The new challenge that we are preparing to face together with Ferrari, in a top-tier category like Hypercar and in a rapidly growing championship like the Asian Le Mans Series, represents a milestone in the history of Cetilar Racing," Roberto Lacorte stated. "With the usual and precious support of AF Corse, we will take to the track with an extraordinary and winning prototype like the Ferrari 499P. We are truly thrilled to be the first private team to live this moment, driven by the same passion that has always distinguished us."
On the other side of the garage, Luis Perez Companc secured the entry of the Ferrari 499P running in AF Corse livery with the #90 number, making the massive leap to the top class alongside Nicklas Nielsen (with whom he previously raced in LMP2) and Ye Yifei, who both recently renewed their contracts with Ferrari. This Winter series will serve as a rigorous testing ground for the current WEC and IMSA top category, throwing amateurs straight into the deep end with the complex hybrid and electronic systems of these beasts compared to the traditional LMP2 machines. The 499Ps will run in their current WEC specification, while Maranello prepares the "Evo" update for the upcoming world championship season.
Potential rivals for Cetilar and AF Corse are still shaking out, as Algarve Pro Racing reportedly stepped back from entering Porsche 963 LMDh machines due to their demanding nature for amateurs. Over past months, High Class Racing and Michelotto worked to revive the Isotta Fraschini Tipo6 LMh, which competed in the WEC until the 2024 6 Hours of São Paulo, leaving open the possibility of the Danish team running the Italian Hypercar. Meanwhile, the BBM project remains on standby; the English team acquired two wingless Peugeot 9X8 models (which raced in the WEC from 2022 to Qatar 2024) with financial backing from wealthy Greek driver Kriton Lendoudis.
As previously noted, traditional stops in Sepang, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are off the table, replaced by Paul Ricard on November 14-15, Jerez on January 16-17, and Portimao on February 20-21. Each weekend will consist of two four-hour races, with the first on Saturday and the second on Sunday.
