Asia Series of the Fanatec 2024 GT World Challenge Kicks Off in Malaysia

The car of Origine Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) of Lu Wei of China and Laurin Heinrich of German on track during the race 2 of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Selangor, Malaysia on April 21, 2024 Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images

The first round of the 12-race series of the Asia Region 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge took place at the Sepang circuit, Selangor, Malaysia, on April 21 and April 22, with one race on each day. The first race was won by Audi in variable weather conditions by Adderly Fong, a Hongkonger now living in Canada, and Canadian teammate Frankie Cheng. In race two on Sunday, Chinese Canadian Wei Lu and German Laurin Heinrich led from pole to finish for Origine Motorsport Porsche. Earlier, Porche also picked up points by finishing in third place in the morning race.

In race 1, Bian Ye and Edoardo Liberati finished second in a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2, Bo Yuan and Leo Hongli Ye, driving a Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), finished third, and Wei Lu and Laurin Heinrich (winners of race 2) finished in seventh place.

Key finishers in race 2, were winners Wei Lu and Laurin Heinrich driving a Porsche 911 GT3 R (992), Qi Cao and Daniel Morad of the Craft-Bamboo Racing team came in second driving Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, Ferrari 296 GT3 drivers Jiatong Liang and Kailuo Luo were third, and Cheng and Fong (winners of race one) finished in eighth place.

After these two races, Heinrich and Lu lead the Asian driver standings, with Fong and Cheng in second place, just two points behind.

Climax Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO (52) Li Lichao and Liu Hangcheng, and GTO Racing Team Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) (14) of Brian Lee and Hideto Yasuoka battle during race 2 of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia at the Sepang Circuit, Selangor, Malaysia on April 21, 2024. Photo by Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images

The next meeting in Asia is at the Chang International Circuit, Burium, Thailand, on May 11 and May 12, followed by four events in Japan and a final meeting in Shanghai.

The 2024 GT World Challenge is running concurrently in four regions—America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Opening events in America and Europe took place earlier in April, while the Australian series started in February.

With eight of 52 races completed globally, Mercedes-AMG leads the constructors’ standings with 3,476 points, followed by Porsche with 3,136, Audi Sports (2,159), Ferrari (1,983), BMW M (1,972), Aston Martin (1,446) and Lamborghini (1,438). Ford has 38, and McLaren is still on zero.

Drivers and teams compete on a regional basis.

In America, in the two races completed so far, both were won by Adam Adelson and Elliott Skeer of Wright Motorsports in a Porsche 992GT3R. The next race is at the Circuit of the Americas from May 17 to May 19.