Iron Lynx will expand to a two-car Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) programme for the first time during the 2026/27 season, fielding a pair of Mercedes-AMG GT3s through collaborations with the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation and Craft-Bamboo Racing.
The #62 will continue under the Team Qatar by Iron Lynx banner with Abdulla Al-Khelaifi and Mercedes-AMG Performance driver Maxime Martin confirmed, extending a partnership that has emerged as a leading force in the 2026 European Le Mans Series. The sister #63 will run in collaboration with Craft-Bamboo Racing and feature Ameerh Naran, Sérgio Sette Câmara and Mikkel Pedersen.
Iron Lynx joins a substantial GT3 field for the championship’s exceptional European-based campaign, with the 2026/27 ALMS entry list featuring 29 GT3 cars from eight manufacturers. The six-race Winter Le Mans Series will begin at Circuit Paul Ricard in November before visiting Jerez and Portimão during early 2027.
Team Qatar partnership continues into ALMS
The #62 Mercedes-AMG extends Iron Lynx’s relationship with QMMF after Team Qatar emerged as one of the leading LMGT3 operations during the 2026 ELMS campaign. Al-Khelaifi has played a central role in that success, developing rapidly during his first season in European endurance competition and becoming the first Qatari driver to stand on the top step of the podium in ACO-sanctioned racing.
His breakthrough came at Silverstone, where Team Qatar by Iron Lynx converted pole position into victory during a rain-affected race. Al-Khelaifi, Ralf Aron and Julian Hanses delivered Mercedes-AMG’s first ELMS LMGT3 victory during the 4 Hours of Silverstone, moving the #62 into the championship lead with one round remaining.
The result followed a season in which Al-Khelaifi repeatedly demonstrated strong qualifying pace. He had already made history at Barcelona by becoming the first Qatari driver to claim an ELMS pole before adding further class poles as the campaign developed.
Martin will again provide an experienced professional reference alongside him during the winter programme. The Belgian has worked extensively with Iron Lynx across both the FIA World Endurance Championship and ELMS and currently sits among the leading drivers associated with the #62 programme.
The partnership now carries that momentum into ALMS, with Team Qatar by Iron Lynx already forming part of the maximum 47-car field confirmed for the coming season.
Craft-Bamboo collaboration creates second entry
Iron Lynx’s second Mercedes-AMG represents a new collaboration with Craft-Bamboo Racing, bringing together two established GT organisations as the Italian squad looks to strengthen its connection with Asian motorsport.
Naran will continue with Iron Lynx after competing in the #63 Mercedes-AMG throughout the ELMS season. He will again be joined by Sette Câmara, who has provided the professional benchmark within that programme and demonstrated the car’s potential with strong individual performances during the campaign.
The pair have already shared significant track time together during the 2026 season. Sette Câmara led LMGT3 during opening practice at Spa, while the #63 has remained part of a highly competitive class in which the margins between the leading cars have frequently been small. Naran and Sette Câmara remain listed together in the ELMS standings following Round 5 as they prepare to carry their partnership into the winter.
Pedersen completes the #63 crew and brings a different background to the combination. The 18-year-old Dane has produced strong results in single-seater competition before beginning his transition into endurance racing, where he has already claimed an ELMS LMP3 victory. His move into the Mercedes-AMG gives him an opportunity to broaden that experience through a full six-race GT3 programme.
Piccini welcomes expanded ALMS effort
Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO Andrea Piccini sees the two-car entry as an important expansion for a team that will face substantial competition throughout the coming campaign.
“It’s great to announce our two-car entry for the upcoming edition of the Asian Le Mans Series, which will be held in Europe,” Piccini said. “The entry list is impressive, with a very high competitive level, and we know we must be prepared for a challenging season.”
The Team Qatar programme gives Iron Lynx continuity from its successful ELMS campaign, with Piccini identifying Al-Khelaifi and Martin as important elements of the team’s championship ambitions.
“We are delighted to continue our programme with QMMF and field the Team Qatar by Iron Lynx entry. Abdulla and Maxime are among the strongest drivers in their categories, which sets us up well for the start of the new campaign.”
The Craft-Bamboo partnership also carries longer-term significance. Iron Lynx had been exploring opportunities to establish stronger links with Asian competition, making the collaboration particularly relevant even though the coming ALMS season will unusually take place in Europe.
“I also welcome the collaboration with Craft-Bamboo Racing, a very experienced group that chose us as a strategic partner for this effort,” Piccini said. “We had been in touch for some time, as Iron Lynx was looking to find a good partner to expand into Asia. We thought that ALMS, despite being held in Europe this year, was the right opportunity.”
Naran and Sette Câmara continue after ELMS
Keeping Naran and Sette Câmara together gives the #63 entry continuity despite the new partnership surrounding the programme. Their existing working relationship with Iron Lynx means the crew can enter Paul Ricard with a season of experience already behind it rather than starting the winter with an entirely new combination.
Piccini is also optimistic about Pedersen’s addition and believes the Dane can complement the experience already within the crew.
“I’m happy to see Ameerh and Sergio continue their programme after the ELMS, and I’m looking forward to working with Mikkel,” he said. “I think he will be a strong addition to the team as we look to carry on our recent European form.”
That European form has been particularly strong for the Team Qatar side of the operation, which heads into the ELMS finale among the LMGT3 championship contenders after its Silverstone breakthrough. The #63 has faced a more difficult campaign but has still demonstrated competitive pace, giving Iron Lynx useful experience to carry into its expanded winter programme.
European Winter Le Mans Series begins at Paul Ricard
The 2026/27 ALMS season will adopt an unusual European format because of continuing uncertainty surrounding racing and logistics in the Middle East. The official Iron Lynx announcement confirms three double-header weekends, preserving the familiar structure of one four-hour race on Saturday and another on Sunday.
Circuit Paul Ricard will host the opening two races on 14-15 November before the championship resumes at Jerez on 16-17 January. Portimão then concludes the campaign on 20-21 February.
The temporary relocation coincides with a significant evolution of ALMS. Its 47-car grid includes Hypercar for the first time alongside LMP2 and GT3, with the GT field alone containing 29 cars. That depth ensures Iron Lynx’s first two-car campaign will begin against substantial competition despite the series moving away from its traditional geographical base.
For Iron Lynx, the winter programme also connects several parts of its wider endurance racing activities. Team Qatar carries its ELMS momentum into the #62, Naran and Sette Câmara continue together in the #63, and the new Craft-Bamboo relationship provides an avenue for the team to strengthen its presence in Asian motorsport beyond the exceptional European campaign.
