> Almost 50 cars confirmed for maiden SRO GT PowerTour event
> Entry list: Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS + Japan Cup
49 GT cars head to Fuji International Speedway this weekend where the inaugural SRO GT PowerTour event brings together Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS and the Japan Cup.
The two championships raced as one at the same venue in 2022 and ’23 but were split prior to this season when SRO established a new domestic multi-class series. Its opening rounds took place two weeks ago at Sugo, while Fanatec GT Asia makes the first of its three appearances in Japan this weekend following outings at Sepang and Chang.
The latter’s 33 full-season entries are joined in Fuji’s paddock by 16 Japan Cup contenders split between GT3, GT4 and GTC. This is certainly amongst, and also believed to be, the largest-ever gathering of GT race cars in Japan, while 41 GT3s – albeit appearing across two series instead of one – eclipses a record set by Fanatec GT Asia at the same circuit last year.
That number also includes 11 GT3 manufacturers: Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Nissan and Porsche. It’s a level of variety not seen anywhere else in the world.
Four one-hour GT races – all of which are live on SRO’s YouTube channel – take place this Saturday and Sunday. Formula Beat, Super FJ and Super Kart provide an eclectic supporting cast, and there’s further entertainment off-track thanks to the paddock supercar show and pitlane autograph session.
FANATEC GT ASIA
Global factory stars and Asia’s top GT drivers go toe-to-toe in rounds five and six at Fuji where eight manufacturers feature across this year’s 33 full-season entries.
Two wins in the last three races sees Lu Wei (Origine Motorsport) top the early standings from Franky Cheng and Adderly Fong (FAW Audi Sport Asia Racing Team) who are one of just two crews to have scored points in all four races held so far. The other comprises Yuan Bo and Leo Ye Hongli who lie a point further back in third overall and lead the Silver-Am class.
Both challengers have a chance to erode Lu’s advantage on Saturday when the championship leader serves the maximum additional success penalty for winning Chang’s second race. He has so far tasted success with two Porsche drivers: Laurin Heinrich and Patrick Pilet. The latter is on duty at Fuji where he’s joined by factory colleagues Alessio Picariello, Jaxon Evans and Joel Eriksson.
Picariello shares Absolute’s 911 GT3 R with reigning champion Anthony Liu who scored his first podium of the season in Thailand. The same combination is, nevertheless, 19 points behind Lu but will at least remain stationary for 10 fewer seconds during Race 1’s pitstop.
There’s also extra time heading the way of leading Japanese contenders Hirobon and Yu Kanamaru who equalled their best-ever Fanatec GT Asia result last time out. Despite its age, 5ZIGEN’s Nissan remains a potent GT3 car that will have a better chance to score serious points in Race 2.
Japanese interest extends to Am class title contenders Hiroshi Hamaguchi and Mineki Okura who drive a Hitotsuyama-prepared but Spirit of FFF Racing-entered Audi. Race winner Kiyoto Fujinami fills in for Yuta Kamimura at Porsche Center Okazaki, while Satoshi Hoshino and Tomonobu Fujii are behind the wheel of D’station’s Aston Martin less than a week after racing at Le Mans.
It’s also worth keeping tabs on Absolute’s resurgent Audis, which finished one-two in Thailand’s first race. Markus Winkelhock’s performance was unsurprising, but his amateur co-driver Huang Ruo Han really caught the eye. Their 35-point haul also vaulted them into championship contention with two-thirds of the season remaining.
Elsewhere, Jules Gounon finally makes his first appearance of the season in Climax Racing’s Mercedes-AMG. His participation has been delayed by FIA WEC super sub appearances with Alpine.
JAPAN CUP
16 cars – two more than raced at Sugo – are scheduled to contest Rounds 3 + 4 of SRO’s new domestic GT series, which has filled a gap within Japan’s otherwise extensive motorsport environment.
The season opener produced two excellent races, both of which were won by Bingo Racing’s fan favourite, Transformers-liveried Corvette C7 GT3-R. The same chassis also scored a history-making Fanatec GT Asia victory at Fuji last year.
However, Ukyo Sasahara’s Super Formula clash sees Shinji Takei now partnering fellow amateur Motoki Takemi. And although capable, that combination is unlikely to be as collectively quick as the Pro-Am crews racing K-tunes’ Ferrari and Lexus.
Indeed, Daisuke Yamawaki and Shinichi Takagi clinched both pole positions at Sugo before twice finishing second overall. Their 296 GT3 therefore looks like the favourite to take victory in at least one of the two races.
Their cause is also helped by ANR with VSR’s Lamborghini moving back to Fanatec GT Asia following its one-off Japan Cup appearance. But there is another GT3 entry ready to take its place: Team DAISHIN with GTNET’s Nissan shared by father/son duo Nobuyuki and Ryuichiro Oyagi.
Makoto Haga races solo in another new addition and sole GTC entry, while JBR’s McLaren adds further variety to the now seven-strong GT4 class.
FUJI TIMETABLE
Thursday 20 June
09:00 – 12:00: Japan Cup Official Paid Test
14:10 – 17:10: Fanatec GT Asia Official Paid Test
Friday 21 June
09:50 – 10:50: Japan Cup Official Practice 1
11:10 – 12:10: Fanatec GT Asia Official Practice 1
13:50 – 14:50: Japan Cup Official Practice 2
14:55 – 15:25: Japan Cup Bronze Session
16:15 – 17:15: Fanatec GT Asia Official Practice 2
17:20 – 17:50: Fanatec GT Asia Bronze Session
Saturday 22 June
09:05 – 09:20: Fanatec GT Asia Qualifying 1
09:27 – 09:42: Fanatec GT Asia Qualifying 2
09:52 – 10:07: Japan Cup Qualifying 1
10:14 – 10:29: Japan Cup Qualifying 2
10:35 – 11:05: Pit walk
12:40 – 13:40: Fanatec GT Asia Race 1
15:30 – 16:30: Japan Cup Race 1
Sunday 23 June
11:00 – 12:00: Fanatec GT Asia Race 2
14:15 – 15:15: Japan Cup Race 2
