Reigning Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT champion Kessel Racing has confirmed an entirely new driver line-up for the 2026/27 season, with Takeshi Kimura, Mathys Jaubert and Esteban Masson set to spearhead the team’s title defence.
The Swiss outfit enters the upcoming campaign following a successful 2025/26 season, during which Dustin Blattner, Dennis Marschall and Chris Lulham secured the GT championship aboard the #74 Ferrari 296 GT3. Their performances included two victories and another podium finish, earning Kessel Racing an additional invitation to the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Kessel Racing will now aim to repeat that achievement with an experienced trio that has previously represented the team across international endurance racing. The drivers will compete in the #57 Car Guy-liveried Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo, as the championship prepares for its first European-based winter season.
Kessel Racing prepares to defend Asian Le Mans Series GT3 title
Kessel Racing returns to the Asian Le Mans Series having established itself as the leading GT outfit during the 2025/26 championship.
Blattner, Marschall and Lulham secured victories at Sepang and Dubai before adding a podium finish during the Abu Dhabi double-header. Their consistency throughout the six-race campaign ultimately delivered the GT Teams’ Championship, securing an additional entry for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The result represented another significant achievement for the Swiss organisation, which has established a strong international presence through its Ferrari GT racing programmes.
However, Kessel Racing will approach the upcoming season with a completely different driver combination. Kimura, Jaubert and Masson replace the championship-winning trio, bringing together competitors with extensive experience across GT and prototype racing.
The team will also compete in a significantly different championship environment. The 2026/27 season will feature a maximum-capacity 47-car grid, with Hypercar joining LMP2 and GT3 for the first time.
Despite those changes, Kessel Racing’s objective remains unchanged, with the team aiming to defend its GT3 crown and secure another invitation to Le Mans.
Kimura returns alongside familiar teammate Jaubert
Kimura returns to the Asian Le Mans Series after a season away, having previously contested four campaigns in the championship since 2018.
The Japanese driver brings considerable GT racing experience, including a previous class victory during his first Asian Le Mans Series campaign. His international racing activities have also included regular appearances in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
Kimura will reunite with Jaubert following their successful 2026 ELMS programme in the #57 Car Guy Ferrari operated by Kessel Racing.
The pair competed alongside Ferrari factory driver Daniel Serra, securing victory in the LMGT3 category at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet.
Jaubert delivered the decisive performance during the race, overtaking TF Sport’s Charlie Eastwood before securing victory by more than 17 seconds.
The Frenchman also enjoyed success with Kessel Racing at the 2026 CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, where he claimed Bronze Cup victory alongside Blattner, Marschall and Ben Tuck.
Their previous experience together should provide valuable continuity as Kessel Racing prepares for another championship campaign.
Jaubert brings growing Hypercar experience to GT3 line-up
Jaubert’s confirmation adds another dimension to Kessel Racing’s line-up, with the 21-year-old Frenchman having established himself as one of the most promising young drivers in international endurance racing.
Alongside his GT3 and ELMS commitments, Jaubert joined Genesis Magma Racing for its inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar campaign in 2026.
He shares the #17 Genesis GMR-001 with André Lotterer and Pipo Derani, contributing to the manufacturer’s development throughout its first season.
His most significant achievement came during the recent 6 Hours of Barcelona, where he secured Genesis’ maiden Hypercar pole position.
At just 21 years old, Jaubert became the youngest outright pole-sitter in FIA WEC history, demonstrating his growing competitiveness against established endurance racing drivers.
His return to Kessel Racing will therefore reunite him with a team he already knows while providing another opportunity to compete for an international GT3 championship.
Meanwhile, Masson completes the line-up, returning to the Swiss squad after previously representing it in 2024.
The French driver’s GT racing experience will provide another valuable contribution as the team prepares for its title defence.
Ronnie Kessel targets another championship and Le Mans invitation
Kessel Racing Team Principal Ronnie Kessel welcomed the announcement, highlighting the importance of defending the team’s championship title while recognising the opportunities presented by its new driver combination.
Kessel praised the achievements of the previous season and expressed confidence in Kimura, Jaubert and Masson, noting that their experience and familiarity with the team would provide a strong foundation.
The team principal also identified the automatic invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans as a significant motivation for the upcoming campaign.
“Winning the Asian Le Mans Series last season was a great achievement for the whole team, and we come back with the clear goal of fighting for the title again. With Takeshi Kimura, Mathys Jaubert and Esteban Masson we have a strong and experienced line-up, and racing on circuits we know well in Europe gives us a good basis for the season. The invitation to Le Mans is a big motivation for everyone.”
Kessel’s comments reflect the team’s intention to build on its previous success rather than simply consolidate its position in the championship.
The upcoming European-based calendar should also provide familiar conditions, with the squad having competed at several of the circuits through its other international racing programmes.
However, the larger grid and the presence of several established GT3 teams will create a significant challenge as Kessel Racing attempts to secure consecutive titles.
Asian Le Mans Series prepares for competitive 2026/27 season
The 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Series will feature six four-hour races across three European circuits, marking a significant departure from its traditional calendar in Asia and the Middle East.
The championship’s 47-car entry list includes two Hypercars, 16 LMP2 prototypes and 29 GT3 cars representing eight manufacturers.
Kessel Racing will face competition from established international GT3 outfits, including Manthey, AF Corse, Garage 59, Team WRT and Heart of Racing.
The season begins at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on 13–15 November 2026, with two four-hour races opening the championship.
The series will then travel to Circuito de Jerez in Spain on 15–17 January 2027 before concluding at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal on 19–21 February.
For Kessel Racing, the opening weekend at Paul Ricard will provide an opportunity to build on its previous success at the circuit, particularly following Kimura and Jaubert’s ELMS victory earlier this year.
With the GT3 champions receiving an automatic invitation to the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans, the stakes remain high for the Swiss outfit.
Having secured the title through consistency and strong performances during 2025/26, Kessel Racing will now aim to repeat that achievement with its new driver trio as it prepares for another competitive Asian Le Mans Series campaign.
