It’s a 23 car GT3 class entry with eight different marques represented at the opening race weekend at Sepang with the usual logistical wrinkles delaying the preparations of a number of teams with a handful of cars, and some pit equipment still to arrive by Wednesday lunchtime.
The assembled entry though will be a colourful group with the now traditional mix of eye-catching liveries for the five-round Series.
Attempto Racing’s pair of Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evos have arrived with contrasting red and grey, and orange and grey colour schemes.
Sainteloc Racing’s pair of Audis meanwhile are in white base colour (#42) and light grey (#43)
Team Project 1 are running their BMW M4 GT3s in ACO rules racing for the first time, the cars have run only in German domestic competition thus far.
The #56 car will have its orange livery applied today with the #93 carrying a marbled grey livery featuring a stylised repetition of the team logo. The #56 adds Bronze-rated Huilin Han to the already named duo of Maxime Oosten and Sean Gelael.
Earl Bamber Motorsport’s pair of Porsche 911 GT3.R (992s) are here in full livery, happily with both featuring non-matching primary colours.
Pure RXcing meanwhile will share a garage with the Herberth Racing squad, whose Porsche was yet to arrive as this article went to press, the #91 squad have already acquired two entries for the 2024 Le Mans 24 Hours (one via success in GT World Challenge Europe, the other as a full-season WEC entrant with Manthey) and will, under a separate licence, attempt to secure a third via the Asian Le Mans Series!
Also fully understanding the never ending pain of a TV commentator are Optimum Motorsport who bring a pair of contrasting but brightly coloured McLaren 720S GT3 Evos to the Series.
There will be three Ferrari 296 GT3s in the entry, the #21 AF Corse entry is a late arrival with the sister #82 already on site in full ‘Breton’ livery matching the sister LMP2 car for brothers in-law Charles-Henri Samani (Ferrari) and Francois Perrodo (Oreca).
The third is the brand new GR Racing car, with the team’s full 2023 FIA WEC driver trio aboard in Asia, the car (pictured top) in a familiar-looking livery that translates beautifully from the team’s GTE Porsche to the very differently proportioned Ferrari.
Craft Bamboo Racing’s #37 Mercedes AMG is not going to be missed on a dark night with its red and yellow colour scheme.
Getspeed Performance are another awaiting the arrival of much of their equipment, and one of their Mercedes AMGs. The Al Manar Racing car is already on site.
Finally, for now, at least, the #75 Team Motorpark AMG is on-site ahead of the GT Open regular squad’s debut in ACO rules racing.
