Absolute Racing says it is looking at several future programmes and involvements including IMSA, the FIA World Endurance Championship and even a potential LMDh effort, but says a lot of variables would need to fall into place to make it happen.
The Asia-based squad is making its debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend as part of a Proton Competition-operated effort in GTE Am.
The team has, in recent years, seen action in numerous international series, including the Intercontinental GT Challenge and has established itself as one of the premier operations in the Asian motorsport world.
According to Team Director Ingo Matter, additional involvement in the FIA World Endurance Championship following its Le Mans debut is on the team’s radar, but it is not willing to commit to plans until travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have eased up
Obviously, it’s on the radar, but therefore, travel restrictions really have to ease up a little more,” Matter told MotorsportWeek.com “Because you can’t do it with 21 days quarantine on the way back, and stuff like that.
“You have to be accessible to flights not only for the team, but also for the customers. So it’s a big undertaking, and obviously we would love to do it.”
“But the thing is, the stars have to be aligned. And currently, we are thinking more month by month than anything else.”
Despite its base in Asia, where it carries out the majority of its racing activities, the team has previously seen action in the United States as part of the Pirelli World Challenge, predecessor to the GT World Challenge America.
Between 2016 and 2017, the team were active in the series, campaigning the Bentley Continental GT3. On the topic of a potential North American return, potentially in IMSA as part of GTD or the newly announced GTD Pro categories, Matter took a similar stance with regards to the team’s future.
“I mean, to be fair, we really enjoyed our time in America when we did the Pirelli World Challenge with the Bentleys. It was a great time. And IMSA is always something to look at.
“But again, this is a bit like Le Mans or WEC. It has to be a sensible programme. You don’t want to go there and struggle.”
“So again, pandemic has to be aligned and you have to have the right customers and then it’s for sure something to look at, and currently we are we are looking at everything.”
Absolute Racing has spent the past few years campaigning machinery from Audi and Porsche, which are two manufacturers currently gearing up for an LMDh programme from the 2023 season.
When pressed if Absolute Racing would be interested in getting involved in LMDh on a customer basis, Matter explained that it would depend on whether or not the cars would be able to be campaigned in an Asian setting.
“To be honest, it also depends a lot on the ACO. But you don’t have to be a rocket scientist that when we are running Audis and Porsches and what both manufacturers have announced to do from 2023, that this is something where we are for sure, looking at it.
“But again, our core base is in Asia. So we must be able to run cars like this also in Asia.”
One of the ways this could theoretically be achieved is by letting LMDh cars run in the Asian Le Mans Series, where the top category is currenty LMP2.
There are no currently plans to do so, with LMDh currently limited to the IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship, but were that to somehow change, it would be interesting to the team, says Matter.
“That is definitely something to look into. I mean, I’m not saying we’re doing it, but obviously you have to look in all the options and currently there is not enough information. But if it’s something which comes to our region, then for sure, it’s something to look at.”
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