Alessandro Latif added another “blue ribband” motor racing event to his burgeoning portfolio when the Londoner contested the annual Petit Le Mans race in America last weekend (4 Oct).

The 18-year-old rising British GT driver who already this year made his debut in the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours, Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hour events, recorded an unrepresentative 12th place at the Road Atlanta venue in Georgia.

Making a third appearance for the US-based Flying Lizard Motorsports team at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS, Latif targeted a top-five placing in the 10-hour race in the ultra-competitive GTD class.

But despite setting impressively fast lap times on his first-ever visit to the 2.54-mile track near Atlanta during his two stints lasting almost four-hours, the Audi he shared with American co-drivers Seth Neiman and Dion von Moltke was unable to make up lost time from a fuel pump issue early in the race.

“The race result was disappointing but there are many positives to take away from last weekend,” reflected Latif.

“Despite never having driven the circuit previously, my lap times stacked up against the regular US drivers.

“It had already been an amazing year posting fifth and eighth places for the Flying Lizard team at Daytona and Sebring on my first attempts at both events. Now to add the Petit Le Mans race, to the sportscar experience I gained in the build up to this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours in June, can only help my career progress in the right direction.”

Latif returns to Blancpain Sprint Series action with Phoenix Racing over 18-19 October at Zolder in Belgium.