During its debut season, Pinnacle Racing Team (PRT Racing) successfully capped off the 2016 Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup as LMP3 Class vice champions over the weekend (September 2 – 4). Drivers Ate De Jong and Charlie Robertson likewise took second place in the overall drivers’ classification during the series finale.
In qualifying De Jong was first behind the wheel of the Pinbet88-sponsored Ginetta LMP3 and qualified P6 in the first session. With the sunset quickly fading over the Sepang International Circuit, Robertson managed to set the quickest lap of the second session and claimed pole.
Race 1 got underway on Saturday morning where De Jong managed to stay clear from any incidents during the start. He maintained his position and put in a solid stint before the pit stop. Robertson then took over and chased after the front runners. The Scottish driver consistently chipped away at their lead lap-after-lap and managed to cross the finish line in fourth place with the fastest lap of the race.
Starting from the lead, Robertson got off to a quick start in Race 2 on a very hot Sunday afternoon. He opened a comfortable gap from the field before pitting in for the mandatory driver change. The strategy for De Jong was to rejoin the race in P1 and maintain the position until the chequered flag dropped. Unfortunately, the Ginetta LMP3 prototype wouldn’t restart despite the team’s valiant efforts and was forced to retire. The cause was later determined to be a battery isolator failure.
Despite the setback, PRT Racing still held on to second place in the LMP3 Class teams’ classification. De Jong and Robertson also shared the result as the duo concluded the season in second for the drivers’ title.
The team now focuses its efforts in preparing for the 2016/2017 Asian Le Mans Endurance Series that starts in October.
Accompanying PRT Racing on their LMP3 campaign are partners Pinbet88, Motul, Redmount Group, Balkan Restaurant, and P1 Racewear.
Ate De Jong, PRT Racing Owner and Driver: “It was a very tough weekend for the whole team, but the boys did a great job to put everything together and get the car running well. We were in the lead during Sunday’s race and in a good position for a podium. Unfortunately the car had some problems and we couldn’t rejoin. Although it’s sad to miss out on the championship, second place is still a nice way to end PRT Racing’s very first season.”
Charlie Robertson, PRT Racing Driver: “It just wasn’t our weekend, but we had the pace and got the fastest lap in both races. Looking at the positives, second place in the championship is an amazing result for Ate and myself. PRT Racing certainly knows how to roll out a fast Ginetta. I’d like to thank everyone for all the hard work and support and can’t wait for the Asian Le Mans Series to kick off next month.”
The Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup (ALMSC) is a sports car racing championship aimed at amateur drivers who want to progress to a higher endurance series. It’s open to LMP3 and Group CN prototypes, as well as GT Cup machinery. Know more about ALMSC at http://www.asianlemanssprintcup.com.
For more info about PRT Racing, visit www.pinnacle-racingteam.com. Get the latest updates at www.facebook.com/PinnacleRacingTeam or follow @PRT_Racing on Twitter and Instagram.
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