Pure Rxcing (pronounced Pure Racing) is a Lithuanian sports car racing team that currently competes in the LMP2 class of the Asian Le Mans Series.[1] Founded in 2022 by race mechanic and engineer Edgar Kochanovskij, it is the inaugural champion of the FIA World Endurance Championship's LMGT3 category.[2]

Lithuania Pure Rxcing
Founded2022
Founder(s)Edgar Kochanovskij (owner)
BaseVilnius, Lithuania
Team principal(s)Edgar Kochanovskij
Current seriesAsian Le Mans Series
FIA World Endurance Championship
GT World Challenge Europe
Former seriesMiddle East Trophy
Current driversFIA World Endurance Championship:
92.
Austria Klaus Bachler
Saint Kitts and Nevis Alex Malykhin
Germany Joel Sturm
Noted driversUnited Kingdom Harry King
Germany Sven Müller
Turkey Ayhancan Güven
Germany Marco Seefried
Teams'
Championships
FIA World Endurance Championship:
2024 (LMGT3)
Asian Le Mans Series:
2023–24 (LMGT3)
Drivers'
Championships
FIA World Endurance Championship:
2024: Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin, Joel Sturm (LMGT3)
Asian Le Mans Series: 2023–24: Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin, Joel Sturm (LMGT3)

History

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Pure Rxcing's Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) at the Nürburgring

Having worked as a mechanic and engineer in motorsport for several years, Edgar Kochanovskij formed his own racing team, Pure Rxcing, in late 2022.[2] The team made its competitive debut in the 2022–23 Middle East Trophy at the 2023 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi.[1]

GT World Challenge Europe

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2023

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In 2023, Pure Rxcing entered the GT World Challenge Europe fielding the No. 911 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with support from German squad Herberth Motorsport in the Bronze Cup class. Alex Malykhin would serve as the team's bronze-graded driver, being joined by Ayhancan Güven for the Sprint Cup, Klaus Bachler and Joel Sturm in the Endurance Cup and Marco Seefried for the 24 Hours of Spa.[3][4][5][6] The team would win twice, including their debut race at Monza, and Malykhin was crowned Bronze Cup champion.

2024

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Pure Rxcing returned to the Endurance Cup in 2024 with an unchanged car and lineup, but would instead take on the Pro class, with Kochanovskij stating they had "nothing more to achieve" in Bronze.[7][2]

Asian Le Mans Series

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2023–24

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For the winter campaign following its maiden season, Pure Rxcing pursued the Asian Le Mans Series, continuing the collaboration with Herberth and Porsche.[8][9] Bachler, Malykhin and Sturm had a successful season with two wins and three podiums, which ultimately gave them the championship ahead of Triple Eight JMR by two points.

2024–25

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In the wake of his FIA WEC successes, Alex Malykhin was upgraded from bronze to silver rating by the FIA, which led Pure Rxcing to switch focus to LMP2.[10] The team partnered up with TF Sport for a go at the Asian Le Mans Series, fielding the No. 91 Oreca 07 for Malykhin, Louis Delétraz and Harry King.[11]

FIA World Endurance Championship

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2024

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In January of 2024, the team announced that they would compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship's new LMGT3 class.[1] Pure Rxcing would field the No. 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with technical support from Manthey Racing, signing usual trio Klaus Bachler, Alex Malykhin, and Joel Sturm to drive the car for the full season.[12] Pure Rxcing would have a historic season with two wins and six podiums to win the championship in their debut season.

Racing record

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Complete Asian Le Mans Series results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class No Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 Pos. Pts
2023–24   Pure Rxcing LMGT3 91 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6   Klaus Bachler
  Alex Malykhin
  Joel Sturm
SEP
1

6
SEP
2

1
DUB
1
ABU
1

Ret
ABU
2

2
1st 76

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class No Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pos. Pts
2024   Manthey PureRxcing LMGT3 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) Porsche M97/80 4.2 L Flat-6   Klaus Bachler
  Alex Malykhin
  Joel Sturm
QAT
1
ITA
3
SPA
2
LMS
10
SAP
1
COA
2
FUJ
2
BHR
9
1st 139

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Manthey EMA and Manthey PureRxcing enter WEC with strong line-ups". www.fiawec.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Kilbey, Stephen (February 27, 2024). "From Lithuanian Rallycross To Le Mans: Tracking The Rapid Rise Of Pure Rxcing". Dailysportscar. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (March 28, 2023). "Bachler to Lead Pure Rxcing Porsche Lineup – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Dagys, John (June 20, 2023). "Driver Lineups Confirmed in Updated 71-Car Spa Entry – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Plümer, Jonas (September 1, 2023). "GT World Challenge Europe: Klaus Bachler für Pure Rxcing". gt-place.com (in Swiss High German). Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS reveals 2024 entry lists featuring nine full-season manufacturers". Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS. February 27, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "36 Cars On Full-Season Asian Le Mans Series Entry List". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "GR Racing et Pure Rxcing dévoilent leurs équipages". Endurance-Info (in French). Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Klein, Jamie (October 9, 2024). "LMGT3 Stars Headline FIA Driver Rating Adjustments". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Kilbey, Stephen (September 24, 2024). "Pure Rxcing Partners With TF For LMP2 Expansion". Dailysportscar. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  12. ^ "Manthey EMA and Manthey PureRxcing enter the 2024 FIA WEC Endurance Championship with strong driver line-ups". Endurance Info. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
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