TOYOTA GAZOO Racing remains the Official Safety Car Partner of Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS in 2023 after extending its deal with SRO Motorsports Group into a second season.
The Supra was a permanent and prominent feature at the front of Asia’s biggest regional GT series last year when it oversaw formation lap and safety duties at all five events. Now various vehicles, including Lexus cars, will perform the same role during 12 hour-long races at this season’s six weekends.
They include four rounds of the Fanatec Japan Cup, a championship within a championship reserved for local teams and drivers that compete for separate points at Fuji, Suzuka, Motegi and Okayama. Chang International Circuit in Thailand opens the wider campaign on May 12-14, while Sepang in Malaysia stages the season finale in September.
Up to 40 GT3 and GT4 cars are expected to contest the Fanatec Japan Cup rounds this summer.
Toyota also has a presence among them via its sister brand, Lexus. K-Tunes Racing has entered a RC F GT3 in the senior class.
Tomoya Takahashi, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing President: “We are delighted to extend the partnership with SRO Motorsports Group for 2023. It is quite obvious that the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS is making a significant contribution to the development of customer motorsport in Asia. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing also wants to actively contribute to the development of customer motorsport while continuing to aim for ‘making ever-better motorsports-bred cars’, and we are very grateful to be able to support such a great series and contribute to the safe operation of the races, as we did last year.”
Benjamin Franassovici, Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS General Manager: “We are pleased to extend our Safety Car collaboration with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing into a second season. The Supra GR became a recognisable presence at the front of our grid throughout 2022 and is a very capable car in its own right. Plus, the championship’s strong ties with Japan – which continue into this year – make the country’s biggest car manufacturer a perfect fit.”