The 2015 GT Asia Series is at the mid-point of the season heading into Sepang where the series regulars will face a new challenge at the popular Malaysian circuit, the series’ first ever endurance round, an event which not only pushes many of the teams beyond the 60-minute races they are used to, but also comes with a double-points championship advantage!
The list of winners across that time represents a who’s-who of past GT Asia Series seasons, but the standout performer is the very team that is looking to get their 2015 championship back on track, Singapore’s Clearwater Racing.
Reigning champion Mok Weng Sun had a tough start to the season with a DNF in the opening round in South Korea, before a devastating fire eliminated the team on the out-lap at Okayama. They got their championship back on track in Fuji with a second and a fifth, but they’re desperate for victory at ‘home’ in Sepang, and history shows they’ll be the team to beat.
Across the last five seasons, Mok and the Clearwater team have taken victory in nine of the 20 races held their, and in more frustrating news for their rivals, Clearwater themselves have taken 11 of those 20 wins, whilst Ferrari is the firm favourite on the long straights that follow the tight corners at Sepang, the naturally-apsirated 4.5-litre V8 has won nine of those 20 events, and five of the last six races held there..
Taking into consideration the results of the annual Sepang 12-Hour, the news isn’t much better for Ferrari’s rivals, with Clearwater Racing claiming victory in the Malaysian event over the last two years, with Mok behind the wheel on both occasions.
All of that aside, if there’s one thing that is proven in motorsport time-and-time-again, it’s that victory is never a sure thing, and whilst they start favourites – more especially with the return of WEC-regular James Calado alongside Mok, and Japanese SuperGT star Hiroki Katoh alongside former Sepang winner Richie Wee – Clearwater understand that their undeniable favouritism on their ‘home’ circuit also makes them a target..!
Whilst Clearwater might historically be the most successful Ferrari team at the Sepang circuit, there are two other strong Ferrari operations looking to build on the Prancing’s Horse’s impressive record in Malaysia; the BBT pairing of Anthony Liu and Davide Rizzo, and the emerging pairing of Todd Piti and Carlo Van Dam, both of whom have won rounds of the 2015 championship, something Clearwater is yet to achieve..
Don’t discount Craft-Bamboo Racing either, they may be without points-leader Jonathan Venter after a cycling crash in Australia whilst training which left him with a fractured hip, but they will find a more than qualified replacement to support Darryl O’Young in the VLT Aston Martin, whilst team-boss Frank Yu – who is a two-time winner at Sepang – will be out to make up for a difficult start to the new season.
Interush driver Yu took victory in round seven in Malaysia last year proving that he and the Craft-Bamboo Aston Martins have the pace to take it to the Ferraris, especially with Asian GT star Richard Lyons alongside, the Ulsterman fresh from the Suzuka 1000km GT300 event last weekend.
As for the new teams, don’t discount points leaders Bentley. They’re shown impressive pace in 2015 and are the only team to have taken two wins this season with former Sepang winner Keita Sawa and rising star Adderly Fong winning in both Okayama and Fuji.
The three-car Absolute Team Bentley operation will also see the debut of Bentley factory driver Andy Meyrick at Sepang, the runner-up in the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series, the Englishman is replacing Andy Soucek in the #7 J-Fly Racing entry of Jeffrey Lee, whilst his former M-Sport team-mate Duncan Tappy will return to the #77 JV Global Bentley alongside reigning GTM Class champion Jacky Yeung.
Bentley won’t be the only 2015 race winners to keep an eye on in Malaysia, with the FFF Racing Team by ACM squad back to full strength after a pre-race accident at Fuji cost the team one of their three McLaren 650S GT3s. Back to full strength, the slick Chinese/Italian operation will also see a new entry, with Hong Kong’s Ronald Wu replacing Fu Song Yang in the #5 entry alongside Andrea Caldarelli.
Wu is no stranger to Sepang as a former Formula Masters China Series and Audi R8 LMS Cup entrant, he also tested with the FFF team at Dubai late last year and is a member of Lamborghini’s Young Driver Development Program in Asia with the new Huracan.
Round three winner Hiroshi Hamaguchi will be joined once more by former F1-driver Tonio Liuzzi, the Japanese driver having come off a solid run in GT300 at the Suzuka SuperGT round the weekend prior, and he’s also a former Sepang winner with Ferrari, so keep an eye on the #55 entry, especially as the team have enjoyed some valuable pre-season miles on the Malaysian circuit.
Don’t discount the Lamborghini’s either, with local stars OD Racing back in their Gallardo FL2 GT3 after a complete rebuild thanks to a shocking accident in the KL Street Race, whilst former Sepang winner Dilantha Malagamuwa can never be ruled out of a podium, especially with the pace shown by team-mate Kota Sasaki in the two Japanese rounds.
The GTM class too has started to become serious, with the leading title contenders looking to combat the emergence of former 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle star Takuma Aoki and team-mate Ken Urata, by employing their own superstars.
Opening round winner and current GTM class points leader Jerry Wang has employed the services of Australian GT3 specialist Warren Luff. Luff is no stranger to GT Asia, having taken the Craft-Bamboo Racing Aston to a podium finish on his debut in South Korea 12-months ago. Likewise Gulf Racing JP, they have employed Belgian star Dylan Derdeale to support Hisashi Kunie in the team’s Type 991 Porsche Cup Car in an effort to improve their chances on claiming the GTM title on debut.
Don’t discount the Taiwan Top Speed Racing Team Ferrari 458 Challenge cars either, they’re reliable and consistent, and that might just be the key to victory across the three hour, three compulsory pit-stop race.
Sepang will also see the debut of Italian Gianluca De Lorenzi’s GDL Racing team, with two Porsche 997 Cup S car’s entered for Keong Liam Lim/Nigel Farmer and Keong Wee Lim/Melvin Moh.
All the action will be played out online this weekend, with Twitter, Facebook and the new GT Asia Series website hosting information, images and video from every day, whilst on Saturday, the big race will be broadcast live with internationally renowned commentator Jonathon Green calling the shots. All details will be available via; www.facebook.com/GTAsiaSeries
WHO’S COMPETING IN SEPANG?
GT3 CLASS
1. Mok Weng Sun/James Calado (Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
5. Andrea Caldarelli/Ronald Wu (FFF Racing Team by ACM Nissan GT-R GT3)
7. Jeffrey Lee/Andy Meyrick (Bentley Team Absolute Bentley Continental GT3)
8. Adderly Fong/Keita Sawa (Bentley Team Absolute Bentley Continental GT3)
11. Piti Bhirom Bhakdi/Carlo Van Dam (Singha Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
12. Richard Wee/Hiroki Katoh (Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
15. Nathan Antunes/Rod Salmon (FFF Racing Team by ACM McLaren 650S GT3)
22. Keiichi Mori/Tetsuya Makino (Gulf Racing JP Porsche 997 GT3-R)
24. Dilantha Malagamuwa/Kota Sasaki (Dilango Racing Lamborghini Gallardo FL2 GT3)
27. Dominic Ang/Adrian D’Silva (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
37. Anthony Liu/Davide Rizzo (BBT Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
55. Hiroshi Hamaguchi/Tonio Liuzzi (FFF Racing Team by ACM McLaren 650S GT3)
68. Yuk Lung Siu/Mak Hing Tak (LKM Racing Porsche GT3-R)
77. Jacky Yeung/Duncan Tappy (Bentley Team Absolute Bentley Continental GT3)
86. Zen Low/Fairuz Fauzy (OD Racing Lamborghini Gallardo FL2 GT3)
88. Frank Yu/Richard Lyons (Craft-Bamboo Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
99. Darryl O’Young/tbc (Craft-Bamboo Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
GTM CLASS
20. Dylan Derdaele/Hasashi Kunie (Gulf Racing JP Porsche 991 GT3 Cup)
23. Jerry Wang/Warren Luff (Absolute Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3)
34. Takuma Aoki/Ken Urata (Dilango Racing Lamborghini Gallardo LP560 GT3)
67. Keong Liam Lim/Nigel Farmer (GDL Racing Porsche Type 997 Cup S)
69. James Cai/Kenneth Lim (Ferrari 458 Challenge)
71. Graeme Dowsett/John Curran (Team NZ Porsche 997 Cup Car)
78. George Chou/Robert Lee (Taiwan Top Speed Racing Ferrari 458 Challenge)
87. Keong Wee Lim/Melvin Moh (GDL Racing Porsche Type 997 Cup S)
95. K.S. Wang/Craig Liu (Taiwan Top Speed Racing Ferrari 458 Challenge)
2015 GT Asia Series – Championship points (after round six of 11)
GT3 Class
1. Adderly Fong/Keita Sawa (63-points), 1. Darryl O’Young/Jonathan Venter (63), 2. Anthony Liu/Davide Rizzo (57), 3. Piti Bhirom Bhakdi (52), 4. Richard Wee (51), 5. Carlo Van Dam (42), 5. Matt Griffin (42), 6. Mok Weng Sun (41), 7. Richard Lyons/Frank Yu (39), 8. Hiroshi Hamaguchi/Vitantonio Liuzzi (38), 9. Jacky Yeung/Duncan Tappy (36), 10. Jeffrey Lee (32), 11. Zen Low/Fairuz Fauzy (30), 12. Jiang Xin/Max Wiser (28), 13. Toni Vilander (25), 13. Sean Fu (25), 14. Dilantha Malkagamuwa/Kota Sasaki (19), 15. Andrea Caldarelli (17), 16. James Calado (16), 16. Andy Soucek (16), 16. Jean-Karl Vernay (16), 17. Naoki Yokomizo (10), 18. Craig Baird (9), 19. Hisashi Kunie (8), 19. Andre Couto (8), 20. Rod Salmon/Nathan Antunes (7), 21. Keiichi Mori (4), 21. Dylan Derdaele (4)
GTM Class (after round six of 11)
1. Jerry Wang (64-points), 2. Takuma Aoki/Ken Urata (61), 3. Kimihiro Yashiro (58), 4. Hisashi Kunie (56), 5. Tetsuya Makino (34), 5. Craig Liu/Ryo Fukuda (34), 6. Keiichi Mori (32), 7. Kenneth Lim/James Cai (25), 8. Shogo Mitsuyama/K.S. Wang (10), 9. George Chou/Jeff Lu (0)
The GT Asia Series is sanctioned by the FIA as an International Series and is clearly recognised as the Region’s leading GT Championship. It is jointly managed and promoted by Motorsport Asia Ltd and the Supercar Club Hong Kong and is backed by Michelin, GRAHAM London, KW Automotive, Motul, Auto Art, Race Room, Panta and SEL.
Sepang International Circuit
Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Track length: 5.543-kilometres
Corners: 15
Rotation: clockwise
Designer/Circuit first opened: Hermann Tilke, 7 March 1999
GT3 Lap record: 2:07.518 – Race (Stefan Mucke), 2:05.789 – Qualifying (Alessandro Guidi)
Support classes: TCR Asia Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Audi R8 LMS Cup
Number of times GT Asia Series has competed at Sepang previously: 10
GT Asia Series and Sepang – 2014 (15-17 August)
2014 – Rnd#7 (60-minutes – 27-laps)
1. Frank Yu/Stefan Mucke (Craft-Bamboo Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
2. Anthony Liu/Davide Rizzo (BBT Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
3. Hiroshi Hamaguchi/Rob Bell (Clearwater Racing McLaren MP4-12C GT3)
2014 – Rnd#8 (60-minutes – 27-laps)
1. Keita Sawa/Mok Weng Sun (Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
2. Jiang Xin/Max Wiser (NB Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
3. Anthony Liu/Davide Rizzo (BBT Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
GT Asia Series and Sepang – 2014 (12-14 September)
2014 – Rnd#9 (60-minutes – 27-laps)
1. Keita Sawa/Mok Weng Sun (Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
2. Davide Rizzo/Anthony Liu (BBT Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
3. Max Wiser/Lucas Guerrero (NB Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
2014 – Rnd#10 (60-minutes – 26-laps)
1. Richard Wee/Alessandro Guidi (Clearwater Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3)
3. Max Wiser/Lucas Guerrero (NB Team Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
3. Frank Yu/Stefan Mucke (Craft-Bamboo Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3)
Event#04 2015 GT Asia Series?
Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Times (MYT – GMT +8)
Thursday, 3 September?
11:00 – Unofficial practice #1 (60-minutes)
14:15 – Unofficial practice #2 (60-minutes)
Friday, 4 September ?
10:30 – Practice #1 (60-minutes)
14:00 – Practice #2 (60-minutes)
17:10 – Practice #3 – Bronze Drivers (30-minutes)
Saturday, 5 September ?
09:00 – Qualifying #1 (15-minutes)
09:25 – Qualifying #2 (15-minutes)
15:00 – Race#1 (3-Hours)
2015 GT Asia Series – calendar
Rnd#1/#2, 15-17 May – Korea International Circuit (South Korea)
Rnd#3/#4, 26-28 June – Okayama International Circuit (Japan)
Rnd#5/#6, 17-19 July – Fuji International Speedway (Japan)
Rnd#7, 4-5 September – Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia) – 3-Hour
Rnd#8/#9, 25-27 September – Shanghai International Circuit (China)
Rnd#10/#11, 23-25 October – Buriram International Circuit (Thailand)
NON-CHAMP, 20-22 November – Guia Circuit, Macau (MGP)
