Absolute Audis
Absolute Racing will once again field a pair of Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo IIs in Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS this year.
The first sees one of last season’s breakout stars, James Yu Kuai, joined by Akash Nandy, while the second features long-time Audi factory driver and multiple GT champion Markus Winkelhock partnering a rotating amateur roster.
However, it is Yu who is arguably the bigger draw thanks to some superb performances alongside Andrew Haryanto last season. Now the 23-year-old Chinese racer forms a Silver crew with 2022 Thai Super Series champion Nandy, who was also impressive during a one-off appearance on home soil at Sepang last year.
“I would like to thank Audi Sport Asia and Absolute Racing for continuing their support for me this year,” said Yu. “I think we have a good chance of getting great results with our line-up. The competition will be stiff as always, and I hope to utilize what I learned last year and keep growing and improving as a racing driver.”
Nandy added: “I am really looking forward to competing in my first full season of Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia this year alongside James Yu. Together with Audi Sport Asia and Absolute Racing, I believe we have a very competitive package put together and we will be pushing for strong results.”
Winkelhock, meanwhile, has raced every iteration of the R8 since the original model debuted in 2009 but is yet to contest a Fanatec GT Asia round. His CV includes FIA GT1 World Championhsip and Intercontinental GT Challenge drivers’ titles, as well as victories at the Nurburgring and Spa 24-hour races, but he also raced with Absolute in Thai Super Series and at the Sepang 12 Hours last season.
“I am super happy to be back with Absolute Racing this year and competing in a strong championship like the Fanatec GT Asia,” he said. “I am very motivated and looking forward to the fight for good results. I have known the team for a long time; they have great people and a nice atmosphere. We had a P2 in Suzuka 10 Hours and a won the 12 Hours of Sepang last year.”
Chinese amateur driver Huang Ruohan, who made a couple of appearances with B-Quik Absolute Racing in Thai Super Series last season, is joining Winkelhock for the first two rounds of the season at Sepang and Buriram. The first of those takes place later this month on April 19-21.
“With the pairing of Yu Kuai and Akash Nandy we have two young Asian drivers who, together, can mount a bid for the Fanatec GT Asia title,” said Alexander Blackie, Manager of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “In such a competitive series, it will certainly not be easy, but we believe in supporting the development of local talent. That is the basis of the Audi Sport Asia driver pool. To complement that entry, we are very excited for Audi legend Markus Winkelhock to make his series debut together with local privateers.”
As at Macau last year, Absolute’s Audi liveries evoke the famous martial arts legend of the storm riders. Yu and Nandy pilot the Fortune Wind example (silver and yellow), while Winkelhock drives Auspicious Cloud (gold and red).
Three Mercedes AMGs For Climax Racing
Mercedes-AMG star Jules Gounon will headline Climax Racing’s three-car Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS programme this year.
The reigning Intercontinental GT Challenge and Fanatec GT Europe champion joins Wayne Wang Zhongwei at the first four events before another Mercedes-AMG driver, Ralf Aron, steps into the Pro role at Okayama and Shanghai.
However, Sepang’s season opener will not be Gounon’s championship debut. He contested the series’ very first event, incidentally at the same circuit, with Craft-Bamboo back in 2017. He also raced with Climax in the FIA GT World Cup at Macau last year.
Wang, meanwhile, is no stranger to the team thanks to his previous Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and China Endurance Championship commitments. He has also raced the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in the Asian Le Mans Series.
Climax’s second entry features more international talent in the shape of Australian Jaylyn Robotham who joins Chinese driver Min Heng aboard the #66 entry.
Heng contested the Greater Bay Area GT Cup last season with Climax and has been a mainstay of its domestic programmes in recent years. His new Silver-Am co-driver is just 21 but has already proven his ability Down Under, notably claiming a class win the Bathurst 6 Hour.
Entry number three (#52) pairs Liu Hangcheng with Li Lichao in a car that is also eligible for China Cup points. They have raced extensively domestically in the likes of China Endurance Championship and GT Super Sprint Challenge, but 2024 represents their first racing programme on the wider Asia continent.
This year’s six-round Fanatec GT Asia campaign begins at Sepang on April 19-21.
