A ladder to Le Mans from Asia: A brief history of endurance racing in Asia

If you think about iconic sports cars in the world, what usually comes to mind are German and Italian manufacturers like BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari. But over the last few years, an Asian manufacturer has emerged as a dominant force, giving European teams a run for their money: Toyota.

Asia has never been a stranger to sports car racing and endurance events, though its history isn’t as long as Europe’s. Over the last 30-odd years, the sports car racing landscape in the Asian region has grown exceptionally, thanks to advancing technologies and increased exposure to European racing culture. However, the history of endurance racing as we know it has been rather fragmented.

The first-ever endurance-style race in Asia was held in Macau in 1954, with Eddie de Carvalho winning after completing 51 laps in 4 hours and 3 minutes at an average speed of 49 mph. Granted, 51 laps would hardly be considered endurance racing by today’s standards, but what set it apart from the traditional “fastest wins the race” format was that the winner wasn’t necessarily the fastest—it was the driver who covered the most distance in the allotted time.

In its 77-year history, Macau has only ever hosted the endurance-style format once.

But that one race was enough to set a precedent for endurance-style motorsport events in the future.

By 1963, Suzuka hosted the “Japan Grand Prix” Not to be confused with today’s F1 Japanese GP, the Japan Grand Prix was designed to be Japan’s first endurance-style race, modeled after the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France and the Mille Miglia in Italy. The race featured four classes of cars: GT-I, GT-II, Touring Cars, and Sports Cars. While it wasn’t exactly what we consider endurance racing today—covering 150 km or 50 laps of the original Suzuka layout—it did feature multiple car classes on track simultaneously, resembling modern endurance racing.

Perhaps the most notable and longest-running endurance race in Asia was established three years after the Japan GP: the Fuji 1000km. Introduced in 1967, it was Japan’s first true endurance race, running for 250 laps of Fuji Speedway—approximately 6.5 hours—and attracting manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and even Porsche.

The Fuji 1000km grew in prominence over time, despite external market crises that led to cancellations in 1974 and 1975. In some years, the race distance was reduced to 500 km, but that didn’t stop Porsche, BMW, Mazda, and others from using the event as a platform to develop their sports cars.

With the formation of the World Sportscar Championship (WSC) in 1983, the Fuji 1000km was integrated into the series alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, when the WSC collapsed, the Fuji 1000km lost its international status. By then, Toyota—one of the race’s strongest competitors—had already shifted its focus to the LMP1 category at Le Mans.

While the race was later revived in different forms, including as part of the Japan GT Championship (now Super GT) and later as the Fuji 500 Miles, Asia’s evolving motorsport landscape introduced new series and formats to keep endurance racing alive. For example, the popularity of endurance racing paved way for the Sepang 12H Endurance race in the early 2000’s in Malaysia, which continues to run despite a stoppage in between.

With the intention to build a bigger and more established product, another series was established in 2009 by the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest), best known as the organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: the Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS). Designed as the ultimate stepping stone for regional talent, the series awarded its winners automatic entry into Le Mans. Featuring four classes—LMP1, LMP2, GT1, and GT2—the ALMS initially held two 500 km races per weekend. However, the series struggled in its early years, with the 2010-12 editions canceled due to low participation, scheduling conflicts, and organizational issues.

In 2013, the championship was relaunched with a refreshed format and new management. Over the years, it gained stability through key changes. The one-off race in Japan was replaced with a longer season spanning Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The class structure was revised to include LMP2, LMP3, and GT cars to lower costs. The series was also repositioned as a winter championship.

Today, the championship has found a more stable home in the Middle East and is re-expanding into Asia after scaling back during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 season has drawn over 40 teams across three racing classes, making for a more sustainable grid than in previous years. Now, the series attracts top European teams while also providing a platform for regional teams and privateers to compete.

Global expansion is imperative for any motorsport series in today’s highly connected world. Homegrown brands, despite catering to local audiences, crave global visibility. As for grassroots development, talent growth often works from the top down—it’s when people watch and experience the sport that they feel inspired to pursue it.

Despite being designed for Asia, the ALMS has only attracted five Asian teams across GT and LMP3, and just nine Asian drivers in this year’s edition—a number that needs improvement in the coming years through cost reduction, better awareness, and the possible establishment of downstream academies to scout and build young talent in the region.

The series stands at a crucial juncture as it strengthens its role as a bridge between Asia and Europe, it has the potential to leave a lasting impact on endurance racing in the region.

Learn more of the Asian Le Mans Series here

Watch the ALMS on YouTube here