GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS heads to Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit this weekend, the first time that the series will visit the coastal circuit after an aborted attempt to run here three years ago.
34 cars are entered for the weekend doubleheader, making it one of the biggest grids of the season. The entry list is bolstered by the addition of Porsche Center Okazaki’s #18 911 GT3 R and Absolute Corse’s #19 Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2.
The Porsche will feature past SRO Japan Cup Champion Hiroaki Nagai, sharing the bright red GT3 R with Toyota Gazoo Racing factory driver Kazuto Kotaka. Also returning to the Japanese team is Tsubasa Kondo, back behind the wheel of their #25 Porsche which raced in the opening round at Petronas Sepang International Circuit.
In the Absolute Corse Lamborghini, Squadra Corse factory driver Edoardo Mortara will share the #19 with Indonesian Bronze driver Andrea Anatra (whose surname, the Italian word for ‘duck’, reminds DSC a lot of Absolute Racing alumni and fellow Indonesian Andrew Haryanto – although it could just be a coincidence!)
Absolute Corse will also bring back its #98 Ferrari 296 GT3 that raced in Sepang, now driven by DTM podium scorer Theirry Vermeulen alongside the returning Anderson Tanoto.
Of the other returning entries, Giancarlo Fisichella’s GT World Challenge Asia debut is the big story. The 14-year Formula 1 veteran, three-time Grand Prix winner, and two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner will make his first start in the #60 LM corsa Ferrari 296 GT3, joined by Shigekazu Wakisaka in a Pro-Am entry.
The duo are already expected to enter the 49th annual Suzuka 1000km in September.
There are other driver changes to note too: Alexander Sims is back with the Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports team this weekend, so Ben Green – third in last year’s GT World Europe Sprint Cup – will take Sims’ place in the #99 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Several Porsche customers have made driver changes as well. Alessio Picariello replaces Bastian Buus in the #4 Origine Motorsport GT3 R, Harry King will replace Patrick Pilet in the #911 Absolute Racing GT3 R, Chris van der Drift replaces Dylan Pereira in the #61 EBM car – and Vollgas Motorsports has brought in Daan Arrow, last year’s GT World Europe Endurance Silver Cup champion, to drive the #33 Porsche with Han Ming-Wan. We’re also expecting to see AMAC Motorsport’s Andrew Macpherson back in action in the #51 Porsche 991.2 GT3 R.
EBM has also changed drivers for its Am class #8 Aston Martin Vantage GT3, replacing Martin Berry with Andrew Bentley – as Berry will drive for Iron Lynx this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, and for most of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Images © SRO Motorsports Group
