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AF Corse and Cetilar Racing bring Ferrari 499P to Asian Le Mans Series
Two Italian squads will deploy the Ferrari 499P in the Hypercar category for the upcoming 2026/7 Asian Le Mans Series campaign.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-09-30T17:33:00.000Z - 3 min read
The upcoming 2026/7 season of the Asian Le Mans Series will feature a dedicated Hypercar class at the top level of endurance competition. Two prominent Italian outfits, AF Corse and Cetilar Racing, have officially signed up to contest the championship with the race-winning Ferrari 499P prototype. Following strong campaigns in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Italian hypercar will now test its capabilities in a fresh regional environment.
Cetilar Racing will enter the number 47 Ferrari 499P with technical backing from AF Corse. The driver lineup brings together Roberto Lacorte, Nicola Lacorte and Ferrari factory driver Antonio Fuoco, who secured victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024. Cetilar Racing previously finished second overall in the 2025/6 Asian Le Mans Series and boasts a rich endurance history spanning five appearances at Le Mans between 2017 and 2021.
Roberto Lacorte highlighted the significance of the upcoming campaign as the team approaches a major milestone. The new challenge coincides with the tenth anniversary of Cetilar Racing's initial participation at Le Mans back in June 2017. Lacorte noted that becoming the first private team to take on this endeavour with Ferrari in the Hypercar category reflects a decade of steady growth, shared passion and accumulated experience across elite endurance racing championships.
Alongside the technical support provided by AF Corse, the team is preparing to showcase a brand new livery for the number 47 prototype. According to the squad, the official visual design will be unveiled to supporters at the end of October. Fans who have backed the outfit throughout its decade-long journey will get their first look at the updated machine ahead of the opening winter rounds.
Meanwhile, AF Corse will field a second machine under its own banner. The number 90 Ferrari 499P will be shared among Luís Pérez Companc, Nicklas Nielsen and Yifei Ye. The trio brings significant combined experience to the garage, particularly through previous prototype outings in the LMP2 category where Pérez Companc and Nielsen regularly teamed up.
Nicklas Nielsen expressed enthusiasm about stepping into a new championship environment alongside familiar teammates. Returning to the cockpit of the Ferrari 499P remains a highlight for the factory driver, who looks forward to applying their prototype knowledge to the competitive regional grid. Yifei Ye completes the driver combination in the sister AF Corse entry, rounding out a formidable lineup for the Italian manufacturer.
The 2026/7 Asian Le Mans Series schedule spans six rounds of competition. The opening event of the season is scheduled to take place from 13 to 15 November at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France. As the championship moves into its new winter format based in Europe, the presence of factory-backed machinery in the premier class raises the competitive stakes significantly for all participating squads.