Frustration for the solo Aston after the AsLMS visit to Dubai

Monday, February 02, 2026

Unfortunately, not too much to cheer about for the #56 Ecurie Ecosse Blackthorn Aston Martin Racing crew at the weekend after they battled out the middle two races of the 2025/26 Asian Le Mans Series from the Dubai Autodrome.

Having moved across from Sepang with the opening two races of the season where the Giacomo Ptrobelli, Kobe Pauwels and Jonny Adam driven car had secured an opening race P3 class podium as well as a P13 class finish for their efforts, last weekend’s events had started with a significant weight reduction for the AMR Vantage GT3 as part of a wider BoP “rebalance” in class.

However, with all the other GT class manufacturers also received BoP changes as well so there was never to be any significant benefit on track for the sole Aston Martin runner after it lost further ground on track to its rivals over the course of the two four-hour races that would make up rounds 3 and 4 of the series.

Race one on Saturday saw the Italian take the start form his P9 Qualifying position but despite some early progresses up to as high as P5 in class, the Aston was clearing struggling for pace with the teams race progress further compounded by two drive through penalties for the Italian for his repeated breach of track limits during his opening double stint.

A race car on a track

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

That would pale into insignificance going into the final hour of the race however, as the #56 car was forced to box with ‘technical issues’ that would eventually see the #56 car listed as a non-finisher.

Moving onto Sunday’s race and with all technical issues suitably repaired, Petrobelli would again take the start to the race from his second bet qualification lap P8 in class and whilst the race again headed into an immediate Safety Car period – things were looking better (but only within regard to track limit compliance).

A blue race car on a track

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

As LMP3 tail enders took out the GT class leaders ahead amongst other things, this all broke the pace to the race as the #56 consolidated its position at the tail end of the top ten going into the second half of the race. Progressing through from the bronze of Petrobelli to the Platinum of Adam in the middle stint to the closing leg of the silver graded Pauwels at the end wasn’t enough for the #56 car to make up for lost ground to eventually finish P10 at the end.

As the grid now makes the short journey down to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi for this weekend’s closing back-to-back four-hour races there, the #56 crew see themselves drop down to tenth within the GT class – already well out of numerical contention for the championship win.

Photo credits – team / social media