Chinese GT outfit Origine Motorsport will field an all-Porsche factory-linked driver roster of Bastian Buus, Laurin Heinrich and Alessio Picariello for next month’s Suzuka 1000km.
The Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific customer team will contest the 12-14 September Intercontinental GT Challenge round with its #6 Porsche 911 GT3 R, running a retro-inspired livery honouring Henri Pescarolo and Bob Wollek’s 1981 Suzuka victory in a Kremer Racing Porsche 935 K3 — the first win for a foreign team and drivers in the race’s history. It’s the third retro-inspired livery for the race from Porsche, following Phantom Global and Absolute Racing’s reveals earlier this week.
In the 1981 International Suzuka 1000km, Wollek and Pescarolo’s Italiya-sponsored Kremer Porsche won the pole, but fell as many as seven laps down after an early mechanical issue. In one of endurance racing’s greatest comebacks, the French drivers used all the might of the 935 K3’s turbocharged Flat-6 engine, erased the seven-lap deficit, and retook the lead with 14 laps to go.
On the last lap, Pescarolo had to pit for emergency service to fix the headlamps, momentarily giving up the lead – before he retook it again with half a lap to go, going on to win by just six and a quarter seconds.
2024 IMSA GTD PRO champion Heinrich (below) returns to Origine after competing in the Asian Le Mans Series and GT World Challenge Asia with the team, where he scored three podiums last year.
The German currently leads the Thailand Super Series standings with three wins and two further podiums in 2025.
Buus, the 2023 Porsche Supercup champion, adds Suzuka to a 2025 campaign highlighted by an overall podium at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. He has also raced in Asian Le Mans and GT World Challenge competition in both Europe and Asia.
Former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Picariello completes the trio, coming off a second-place overall finish at the Spa 24 Hours in June. The Belgian has also taken GT World Challenge Asia victory this season alongside Lu Wei at Mandalika.
“I’m really excited to join the squad for the Suzuka 1000km,” said Buus (above). “We’ve got a strong line-up, a stunning livery, and we’re more than ready for the challenge.”
Heinrich added: “It feels special to join them again for such an iconic event and to be teaming up with two excellent teammates in such a legendary livery.”
Picariello (below) described the race as “a legendary event” and said he was eager to deliver “a strong performance” with the team.
Founded in 2021, Origine Motorsport has quickly established itself as one of Asia’s top GT teams, claiming the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia title in its debut season and back-to-back GT World Challenge Asia Teams’ Championships in 2023 and 2024, as well as the 2024 drivers’ crown. The squad’s endurance record includes wins in the Sepang 12 Hours, Shanghai 8 Hours, and consecutive Macau FIA GT World Cup Silver Cup victories.
Managing director of Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific, Alexandre Gibot, hailed the team’s progress: “It’s brilliant to see Origine Motorsport competing in such an iconic race like Suzuka 1000km.
“We have closely worked with the team to support its development from its start in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2021. What the squad has managed to achieve since then is nothing short of remarkable, with wins in endurance races like the Sepang 12 Hour and Shanghai 8 Hour, as well as back-to-back GT World Challenge Asia Championships.
“The team has also identified a very special livery to be inspired by for this year’s running – we can’t wait to see it on track in a few weeks! It’s an impressive Pro driver line-up for the Chinese outfit, and we look forward to supporting them on-track during this gruelling enduro.”
Origine’s second entry, the Bronze class #86, carries a similar design in “Origine Green”. Along with the reveal of its livery, Origine also confirmed reigning GT World Challenge Asia Champion Leo Ye as the third driver alongside Anders Fjordbach and Li Kerong.
A total of 11 Porsche entries will contest the Suzuka 1000km as the marque seeks to extend its record tally of 11 wins in the race.
Images courtesy of Porsche
