Absolute Racing returns to GT World Challenge Asia in 2025

News & Announcements Japan Fuji International Speedway Circuit July 11

Five cars, isn't that too absolute...

This week, the GT World Challenge Asia Cup will rekindle the battle at Fuji International Circuit in Japan. Absolute Racing will continue to send three major brands of GT3 cars to participate in this round of fierce competition.

Located at the foot of Mount Fuji, Fuji International Circuit is 4.563 kilometers long and has a total of 16 corners. It is famous for its 1.5-kilometer main straight and a series of medium- and high-speed technical corners. The track not only has significant terrain undulations, but also has dense technical corners, especially the continuous corners in the third timing section, which poses a huge challenge to the driver's rhythm control and driving skills, making it one of the venues with the highest requirements for vehicle tuning and driver ability in the annual calendar. Fuji has not only hosted world-class events such as the F1 Japanese Grand Prix and the WEC Fuji 6 Hours Endurance Race, but is also an important base for domestic racing activities in Japan.

Continuing the enthusiastic response last year, Fuji Station was once again included in the SRO GT PowerTour weekend this year, with 56 cars gathered together to form the most spectacular GT event of the season. Absolute Racing will continue to represent the three major brands and strive for good results in both rounds of the Asian Cup.

Absolute Corse's No. 29 Lamborghini team is still led by Huang Ruohan and Akash Nandy. From the first try of Lamborghini at the beginning of the season to gradually mastering this Italian "bull", Huang Ruohan and Akash Nandy's No. 29 team is evolving step by step. Although they suffered a defeat in the first round of the Buriram station, the two drivers quickly rebounded and took the stage together in the second round, showing their increasingly mature cooperation and rhythm. In the battle of Fuji, their goal is clear---the first victory of the season in the Silver-Am category.

At the same time, the No. 19 car team ushered in a new lineup. Vincenzo Ricci, who represented the team in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Challenge two weeks ago, will become the third gentleman driver to represent the team this season. He will join forces with Lamborghini official driver Loris Spinelli. Spinelli showed excellent offensive and defensive strength in Buriram, so the performance of this new combination in Fuji is also expected.

For Porsche, both teams are expected to continue their progress this week. Among them, Wang Zhongwei will once again team up with Porsche official driver Patrick Pilet. The two showed a very competitive speed performance in Buriram. Although they failed to finish the second round due to an accident in the early stage, they undoubtedly have the strength to compete for the podium in the group. In this Fuji battle, the pair strives to rebound strongly.

Another Porsche lineup has ushered in changes. As Li Xuanyu is absent due to work reasons, Korean driver Brian Lee temporarily joins the No. 321 team, partnering with young Chinese driver Lu Wenlong. Brian Lee has shown strong strength in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series. This time he will help the team continue to strive for good results in the Silver-Am category.

At the same time, Absolute Corse's Ferrari 296 GT3 will also appear again, with the team consisting of former Pro-Am champion Hiroshi Hamaguchi of the Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia Cup and current DTM driver Thierry Vermeulen. Hiroshi Hamaguchi has a great record in both Asia and Europe. He has participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and won the European Le Mans Series LMGT3 category annual championship last year. Vermeulen is also in good form, winning pole position and podium in the just-concluded DTM Norris Ring Street Race. This time he is going to Asia again, and he also hopes to achieve a breakthrough with his teammates.

Five cars are ready to go. Absolute Racing will start a new round of journey in Fuji and continue to strive for victory in the GT World Challenge Asia Cup. Let us look forward to the wonderful performance of the five teams this weekend!

GT World Challenge Asia

Schedule for Buriram, Thailand (Beijing time)

July 11 (Friday)

10:00-11:00 Official practice

11:15-11:45 Bronze driver practice

14:45-15:45 Qualifying preliminaries

July 12 (Saturday)

07:40-07:55 Qualifying session 1

08:02-08:17 Qualifying session 2

11:55-13:00 First round race

July 13 (Sunday)

10:40-11:45 Second round of the race