Renowned Indian actor Ajith Kumar is set to make his motor racing return, and his Michelin 24H SERIES debut, at the 20th edition of the Michelin 24H DUBAI at the head of his own team, the newly-formed Ajith Kumar Racing. 

Kumar, star of more than 60 films and a legend of the Tamil film industry across a career spanning more than three decades, announced both the formation of and initial plans for his eponymous new team, for which he will also be the lead driver, earlier this month. Ajith Kumar Racing is set to make its 24H SERIES debut with a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in the ‘992’ class in Dubai, and, following that, has also confirmed a full campaign for the 24H SERIES European season in 2025. 

Ajith Kumar Racing will be officially supported by 24H SERIES mainstay Bas Koeten Racing both in Dubai and across the European season. 

Noel Thompson meanwhile will oversee car performance, driver development, and race logistics as team manager. 

Alongside a storied film career, Ajith Kumar is no stranger to the racing circuit either, having made his motorsport debut in 1990 – then just 18 years old – as part of the Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship. Switching to single seaters following his dalliance with 110cc motorbikes, Kumar competed in the National Formula India Single Seater Championship in 2002 before moving up to the Formula BMW Asia series the following year, notably, representing Team India Racing. The British Formula 3’s Scholarship Class came calling for 2004, in which Kumar secured two podium finishes, competed directly with future multi-time British Touring Car Championship race winner Stephen Jelley, and even shared the grid with compatriot – and future Formula 1 driver – Karun Chandhok. 

After a brief hiatus to concentrate on his burgeoning acting career, Kumar returned to the track as part of the 2010 FIA Formula Two championship. The 2025 Michelin 24H DUBAI meanwhile will mark the Kumar’s first official race start in close to 15 years. 

“Determined to achieve new heights in motorsport while mentoring the next generation of racers,” Ajith Kumar Racing has confirmed that its founder and namesake will be joined in the Porsche by Mathieu Detry, Fabian Duffieux, and Cameron McLeod, all of whom are no strangers to success in the 24H SERIES. 

Mathieu Detry made a successful jump from TCE to GT3 competition in 2023, securing his first overall win in the 24H SERIES at Mugello en-route to that year’s GT3 Drivers’ title. The Belgian star makes his series return with the Indian outfit in Dubai after a one-year break. Fabian Duffieux, a former class winner in the 24H SERIES, came within just a few points of taking GT4 Drivers’ honours in the 2023-2024 24H SERIES Middle East Trophy, and most recently finished 2nd in-class at this year’s 24H BARCELONA.

Cameron McLeod meanwhile is set to make his 24H SERIES return in Dubai, just over one year on from finishing on the GT4 class podium at the same event earlier this year. A frontrunner in regional Formula Ford competition in Australia, as well as a former British Formula 4 podium finisher, the young Australian has most recently been impressing in the Super3 and Super2 ranks of Australia’s Supercar championship.