> Full-season Audi entry for Philip Tang
> Second entry also possible
X Works will return to GT World Challenge Asia full-time next season after confirming Philip Tang will drive a latest-specification Audi R8 LMS GT3.
The team regularly competes in Japan’s Super GT and Super Taikyu championships but also made a one-off GT World Challenge Asia appearance at Fuji earlier this year.
Tang, who contested that event in Audi’s previous-generation R8 with Shaun Thong, also won Super Taikyu’s five-hour race at Motegi in September. Now the Hong Kong driver is embarking on a full-season programme with a yet to be confirmed co-driver.
Meanwhile, a second car could join the team’s line-up before Sepang hosts 2020’s opening round in late March.
X Works previously enjoyed GT World Challenge Asia success with Audi in 2017 when Thong and Marchy Lee won the Silver Cup title under the team’s former Phoenix Racing Asia guise.
“I am very glad and delighted to be able to announce my participation with X Works in the GT World Challenge Asia for 2020,” said Tang. “I enjoyed the race weekend in Fuji and feel very confident joining the championship as a full-season entry. I enjoyed driving the Audi R8 LMS GT3 in the past so am very happy to be switching to the updated version next year.
“Coming from multi-category racing into a GT-only championship is also something I am looking forward to. Hopefully I can quickly catch the other quick guys around me.”
X Works motorsport programme manager Ron Reichert added: “It’s great to return as a full-time GT World Challenge Asia entry – the team has been part of every Blancpain GT Series Asia and GT World Challenge season so far. Japan has been our focus in recent years but, with our base now established there, we’re now able to dovetail those commitments with a pan-Asia GT programme.
“We’re very happy to have Philip onboard as we’ve enjoyed some great achievements together and also won the Motegi five-hour race earlier this year. We will continue to prepare over the winter in time for an exciting 2020.”
Sepang hosts the opening round of 2020’s GT World Challenge Asia campaign on March 28/29.