KUALA LUMPUR: Jazeman Jaafar will be racing in unchartered territory at the penultimate round of the Asian Le Mans series which starts at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram on Thursday.
Jazeman was drafted into the China-based Jackie Chan DC Racing X Jota team just before the second leg at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan on Dec 1-3, where he finished third together with American teammate David Cheng in the LMP2 class.
He will, this time, be racing with fellow Malaysians Afiq Ikhwan Yazid and Weiron Tan who had been signed by the team late last month.
Jazeman, who raced in the Blancpain Endurance Series the past two weeks, is hoping to hit the ground running.
"David will not be racing in Asian Le Mans anymore this season, so we have a new lineup of drivers for Buriram," said the 25-year-old.
"The first thing we need to do is to gel together, develop as a team and hopefully be able to fight for a strong result.
"I am still learning a lot as LMP2 is new to me. The principles are similar to what I am used to previously (Blancpain) as they are both endurance races, the focus is on strategy, saving fuel and also the tyres.
"But the driving technique is different because there is a lot more downforce with the LMP2 car which is faster."
"I have never raced at Buriram before but I heard that it is a relatively flat circuit with not a lot of cambered corners, this which should suit our car better."
Jazeman listed Jackie Chan teammates Thomas Laurent, Harrison Newey and Stephane Richelmi, who race in the No 8 car, as well as team BBT as the other cars he expects to challenge for the title in in Thailand.
The season ender will be held at the Sepang International Circuit on Feb 2-4.