GT News Notebook

Absolute returns to Asia with new Porsche pair

One of the most successful teams in GT World Challenge Asia history, Absolute Racing, returns to the series full-time this season armed with two new 992-based Porsche 911 GT3 Rs.

Its #992 line-up pairs Chinese newcomer Bao Jinlong with three-time race winner Alexandre Imperatori, while the second crew (#911) will be announced at a later date.

Established in 2010, Absolute Racing can count itself amongst the continent’s most recognisable teams thanks to various regional GT and single-seater programmes, as well as international forays. However, the global pandemic has prevented the Chinese squad from contesting GT World Challenge Asia since it won the teams’ title in 2019.

This season will also mark Imperatori’s first appearance in four years.

His new Pro-Am co-driver is also no stranger to Absolute Racing or Porsche but has only competed domestically in Carrera Cup Asia, GT Super Sprint Challenge and China Endurance Championship over the last two years. Jinlong’s prior international appearances include the Bathurst 12 Hour and Asian Le Mans Series.

Greystone & RAFA join McLaren Trophy

Greystone GT and RAFA Racing Club have confirmed that they will enter the all-new McLaren Trophy this season.

RAFA Racing Club founder Rafael ‘Rafa’ Martinez and rising British sportscar star Jem Hepworth will race in the McLaren 570S Trophy category of the series, which gets underway at Paul Ricard, France, on June 2-4.

Silverstone-based Greystone GT, who have already confirmed three entries in Artura Trophy class, will prepare and run the 570S Trophy for RAFA Racing Club and recently undertook a two-day test with Rafa and Jem at the Barcelona circuit.

El Salvador-born Rafa, who is now based in Houston, USA, began track driving in 2021 and made his race debut earlier this year in a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Super Tour event at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

He founded the RAFA Racing Club to create a community for supercar trackday enthusiasts in the Texas and wider area and has since began working on a number of non-profit schemes to promote diversity and inclusion in business and sport.

British racer Jem is set to make history as the first female competitor in the McLaren Trophy as well as the first to race for Greystone GT. She is supported by RAFA Racing Club partner Motorsport Woman, and won the British Endurance Championship in 2020 in her first season of circuit racing, and was a front-runner in the Praga Cup in 2021-22.

Falken renews Nürburgring commitment

Falken Tyre Europe has renewed its partnership with the Nordschleife-based NLS series for 2023. The logo of the Japanese tyre manufacturer will in future again feature on the front wings of all racing cars. Falken will also continue to be a partner of the race broadcasts.

“It’s hard to imagine the Nürburgring Endurance Series without Falken,” says Michel Pathe, Managing Director of VLN VV GmbH & Co. KG. “Since 1999, the tyre manufacturer has been at the start in the Green Hell with spectacular racing cars such as the legendary Nissan Skyline or currently the latest generation of the Porsche 911 GT3 R. Falken has been a sponsor of our series since 2021 and, with its involvement in the livestream, contributes to professional mediatisation. From both a fan and marketing perspective, this is an important part of delivering the Nürburgring Endurance Series in the usual manner.”

“Falken and the NLS have been working together in partnership for many years – and this year we will again be at the start with two Porsches,” says Dennis Wilstermann, Marketing Supervisor at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH. “This format fits very well with us and our brand and there are hardly any other opportunities where we can demonstrate the performance of our tyres. Last but not least, we stand for passion and excitement like no other brand – exactly what the NLS and the Nürburgring also stand for.”

Falken, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a company in 2023, has committed a pair of new 992-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Rs to the first three rounds of the 2023 NLS season, before it competes for its first overall victory in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The brand is also expected to compete in additional NLS rounds later in the year.

And partners with GetSpeed for RaceTaxi

In addition to Falken’s motorsport programme and NLS partnership, it has also announced an expansion of its Nürburgring-based activities, by partnering with GetSpeed’s RaceTaxi business which offers hot laps of the Nordschleife for members of the public throughout the year.

The new Porsche RaceTaxi from GetSpeed for the Nürburgring Nordschleife will now sport Falken colours following the announcement of the new partnership. It will also run on FALKEN’s latest high performance tyre, the AZENIS FK520.

“The cooperation with Falken is a great enrichment for our RaceTaxi,” says team boss Adam Osieka. “In the races in the Green Hell, the two Falken Porsches are strong opponents for our Mercedes-AMG GT3s. Away from the competition, we are now making common cause. Falken enjoys an excellent reputation among the Nürburgring fan community, as does our RaceTaxi. In future, we will combine these emotions to offer our customers an unforgettable experience.”

“Falken has been part of the Nürburgring for decades and has expanded its presence in the Eifel year after year. So joining forces with GetSpeed was only the next logical step for us. GetSpeed stands for passion, professionalism and speed at the Ring and therefore fits perfectly with Falken’s DNA and our own values. The partnership underlines our strong position at the Ring and the confidence in our products,” adds Dennis Wilstermann, Supervisor Marketing at Falken Tyre Europe GmbH.

Triple Eight JMR to defend GTWCA title

Triple Eight JMR will attempt to defend its GT World Challenge Asia teams’ title this year after confirming a two-car full-season entry.

Pro-Am champion and member of the Johor Royal Family, Prince Jefri Ibrahim, is joined by Supercars ace Broc Feeney, while his younger brother Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim has Mercedes-AMG factory driver Luca Stolz for company at the majority of this year’s events.

The team will also race in its native GT World Challenge Australia series with both Ibrahims, Feeney and Supercars legend Jamie Whincup.

“2023 will see us running two cars in Australia and two in Asia, so it will be a big year, with big challenges, but we’re looking forward to it,” said Prince Jefri. “Last year I won the Pro-Am championship and we also won the teams’ championship for the first time, which was really amazing.

“This year has started well with a class podium at the Bathurst 12 Hour, and hopefully we can carry this momentum forward into the rest of the season. I’ve been training hard in the gym and getting as much seat-time as possible in the car, as I want to take my physical performance to the next level this year.”

Two Supercars clashes prevent Feeney from racing at Fuji and Okayama, while Stolz’s DTM commitments rule him out of Okayama and Sepang. Their replacements will be confirmed at a later date.

Images courtesy of GT World Challenge Asia, Frozenspeed, Falken & Greystone GT

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