> Slade also confirmed with HubAuto Corsa
> Updated entry list: Suzuka
Reigning GT3 Silver Cup champion Shaun Thong will make his Blancpain GT Series Asia return at Suzuka with Phoenix Racing Asia this weekend.
The 22-year-old from Hong Kong joins Alex Yoong aboard the #5 Audi R8 LMS GT3 after Marchy Lee and Lim Keong Wee partnered the Malaysian in Buriram and Sepang, respectively.
It will be Thong’s first start since claiming the Silver Cup title alongside Lee at Zhejiang last season as part of the Audi Hong Kong entry run by Phoenix. He and Lee also scored their first victory at Suzuka 12 months ago.
Thong is spending the majority of 2018 contesting Super Taikyu’s leading ST-X class with Yoong and Alex Au in another of the team’s R8 LMS GT3s. The trio finished fourth together at Suzuka earlier this year.
Another change to the provisional entry list issued on Monday concerns HubAuto Corsa’s Pro/Am entry. Full-season driver Tim Slade pilots the #28 Ferrari instead of Davide Rigon, who will join the team at Fuji.
A five-hour test session kicks off the championship’s Suzuka track action tomorrow ahead of Friday’s two free practice sessions.