The penultimate rounds of the GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS and SRO Japan Cup seasons take place this weekend at Okayama International Circuit, site of the second “GT PowerTour” event in Japan.
A total of 49 cars are entered across the two series: 30 in GT World Asia’s ninth and tenth rounds, and 19 in Japan Cup’s fifth and sixth rounds.
The most recent addition to the GT World Asia grid is reigning Le Mans 24 Hours winner Ye Yifei.
The first Chinese driver to become an official Ferrari factory driver and the first to claim overall victory at Le Mans, Ye will jump into the #55 Winhere Harmony Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 alongside countryman Song Jiajun.
On the other hand, Climax Racing’s #2 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO (Mike Zhou/Ralf Aron) has been withdrawn due to a damaged chassis.
Other notable returns and additions include IMSA GTD PRO championship leader Alexander Sims, who’s back in the series and behind the wheel of the #66 Johor Motorsports Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, and SUPER GT Series GT300 points leader Naoya Gamou, who will make his series debut in the #18 Porsche Center Okazaki 911 GT3 R.
Lamborghini factory driver Edoardo Mortara is back in the series, piloting the #19 Absolute Corse Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 – and after missing the last race due to government service, Singapore’s Danial Frost returns to the #77 Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG.
Right now, the GT World Asia Drivers’ Championship is a two-team race between JMR’s Prince Jefri Ibrahim in second place, and reigning champions Bob Yuan and Leo Ye Hongli of Origine Motorsport, who have a seven-point advantage.
Three other teams are in a three-way deadlock behind them: Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai (Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom), Anthony Liu Xu/Dorian Boccolacci (Phantom Global Racing), and Ruan Cunfan/Maxime Oosten (Team KRC) are all 42 points back with just four races left.
However, Ruan and Oosten are likely to clinch the Silver-Am Cup this weekend as they carry a 42-point lead over Absolute Corse’s Huang Ruohan/Akash Nandy.
In the Silver Cup, Cheng and Yu from Audi Sport Asia currently hold a 17-point lead over Deng Yi, while in the Am Cup, it’s Garage 75’s David Tjiptobiantoro and Christian Colombo who lead by 25 points over AMAC Motorsports’ Ben Porter.
Of the 29 cars in the field this weekend, more than half of them will be racing in the 49th annual Suzuka 1000km on 14 September in some form.
Speaking of Suzuka, the Japan Cup will conclude there, but not before the penultimate meeting at Okayama.
All but four of the 19 Japan Cup entries are GT3 cars, led by Hitotsuyama with Cornes Racing’s championship leaders Akihiro Tsuzuki and Shintaro Kawabata. Their #296 Ferrari leads the standings by 12 points over seven x seven Racing’s Hiroyuki ‘Bankcy’ Ogawa – who has young Taichi Watarai as his co-driver again this weekend.
Shinji Takei/Ukyo Sasahara (Bingo Racing) and Yudai Uchida/Yuya Motojima (Max Racing) are both still within reach after wins earlier this season.
Tadao Uematsu and Hirokazu Suzuki (Team Macchina) can seal the GT3 Am title in Okayama with nearest rivals Masaaki Nishikawa/Atsushi Tanaka (Tomei Sports) trailing by 45 points.
So too can GT4 points leaders Haridarma Manoppo and Seita Nonaka for Toyota Gazoo Racing Indonesia, who have a 28-point lead over Yoshitomo Makino/Daiki Fujiwara (Sunrise Blvd).
The addition of Super Taikyu Series champions Murakami Motors to the GT4 grid, with their orange and green #88 Porsche 718 GT4 RS Clubsport, will add much-needed flavour to the GT4 ranks this weekend.
Also joining this weekend is Norik Racing’s #181 296 GT3, with Ferrari Challenge Japan graduate Norikazu Shibata joining 2011 SUPER GT GT300 Champion, Taku Bamba.
Images © SRO Motorsports Group, David Lord / dailysportscar.com
