Two Chinese drivers back in the championship with Alexandre Imperatori

Since the introduction of the Covid-19 in 2020, Chinese drivers have not been able to leave their country to drive internationally. China, which recently reopened its territory, is now allowing its drivers to return to world circuits. Bihuang Zhou and Zhongwei Wang are both regulars in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, they will be supported by Alexandre Imperatori. The Swiss, who has been living in China for several years, is the coach for the Bronze and Silver.

"For me, the objective is to help my two teammates progress," Alexandre Imperatori told Endurance-Info. "I am there as a coach because they don't have much experience in GT. The Asian Le Mans Series is the first time they have raced outside of China for three years and the arrival of the Covid-19. We are not here with the ambition to win races but rather to introduce them to the international level of endurance racing. Before that, they raced in Cup Asia."

Rookie or not, when you come to drive in the Asian Le Mans Series, you inevitably have a desire for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which their coach does not deny: "In a corner of their minds, there is the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the meantime, they are discovering the Mercedes-AMG GT3, which is still a very good car for gentlemen."

With the country opening up again, Alexandre Imperatori can now travel normally: "I have a programme in Asia which will be announced shortly and I am working on something in Europe. It's possible to travel from China again and return without going through quarantine. More and more flights are opening up."

Alexandre Imperator's first 2023 programme was to be the 24 Hours of Daytona in an Acura NSX GT3 entered in GTD PRO by KCMG. It was all set and signed but IMSA put the Acura on the waiting list knowing that the IMSA programme would be limited to Daytona.