Optimum Motorsport confirms the first of its two McLaren 720S GT3 EVO line-ups into the 2023-24 Asian Le Mans Series

Full-season Optimum Motorsport driver, Sam De Haan is joined by Spa 24 Hour co-driver and McLaren Factory ace, Tom Gamble as well as British GT’s current championship leader, James Cottingham to form the first of Optimum’s two Asian Le Mans entrants.

The trio will take on the full season, five-round Asian-based championship together and with an array of racing under their belts already this year, they’ll be strong contenders for the overall GT title and the elusive 24 Hours of Le Mans invitation: an honour which is awarded to each of the series’ class winners.

For the past two years, the Asian Le Mans Series has been a two weekend, four-race championship across the Middle East in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For the 2023-24 season, which spans across the winter, the series kickstarts with a double-header on 2-3 December at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.

After the Christmas break, racing resumes on the first weekend of February with a singular four-hour race at Dubai Autodrome before heading to Abu Dhabi for rounds four and five at the infamous Yas Marina Circuit.

De Haan and Gamble are no strangers to the championship, or winning by any feat, as the pair claimed a class victory alongside their Optimum teammates at the 24 Hours of Spa this summer. The latter now enters into the Asian Le Mans Series for a fifth consecutive year.

For Cottingham, although his first venture into the series, he’s proved himself to be one of the quickest Am drivers on the grid as he helped to secure the Teams’ title and currently leads the drivers’ standings in the 2023 Intelligent Money British GT championship. With one crown already to his name this year, James will be a great addition to the already strong pairing of Sam and Tom as the trio are set to endure a total of 20 hours of racing amongst a highly competitive GT field.

Car #69’s usual Red Zebra look takes a well-earned break during the winter months and is swapped out for a striking matte yellow and dark green. The livery was created by renowned designer Sean Bull, continuing Sam’s impressive designs as he further builds on his GT3 racing experience.

Shaun Goff, Team Principal of Optimum Motorsport added “It’s great to be back in the Asian Le Mans Series. We’ve had great success out in the Middle East in recent years, earning the Le Mans invitation back in 2021, and again in 2022 by winning the championship, so we’re ready to hit the ground running again this time around.”