The long-time partnership between Audi Sport customer racing Asia and multiple championship-winning team Absolute Racing is set to strengthen further in 2019 with confirmation of a two-car entry in the newly-named Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia. One of two Audi R8 LMS GT3s will be piloted by China’s most successful circuit driver to-date and Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup driver mentor Cheng Congfu, and one of the Cup’s standout drivers this season, Sun Jingzu, in what promises to be a powerful Pro-Am pairing.
“Absolute Racing is a hugely successful Audi customer team in Asia and we are excited to continue our close partnership into the 2019 season,” said Martin Kuehl, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “The Pro-Am entry of Cheng Congfu and Sun Jingzu combines one of China’s most acknowledged racers with one of the country’s best privateers. A true Chinese dream team! We wish them all the best for the season.”
The Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia, formerly the Blancpain GT Series Asia, enters its third season in 2019, with a six-stop, 12-race calendar which includes Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and China. Armed with both the full support of Audi Sport customer racing Asia and the formidable latest evolution of the Audi R8 LMS GT3, Absolute Racing will represent a force to be reckoned with in the region’s leading multi-marque GT championship.
“We are pleased that the successful partnership with Audi Sport customer racing Asia continues on Asia’s racetracks in 2019,” said Ingo Matter, team principal of Absolute Racing. “We are glad that we can confirm at this early stage to be running two cars at least. The Audi R8 LMS new Evo package upgrade not only looks exciting but also proved to be a big improvement on the racetrack as the results of early December tests showed. Our goal is clear, to go for the championship title, winning as many races as possible on the way.”
In his role as Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup driver mentor, Cheng worked closely with Sun throughout the 2018 season, unlocking his protégé’s tremendous potential and seeing him power to fourth in the championship, and remaining in title contention right down to the final event of the season.
The line-up for the second Absolute Racing Audi entry will be announced in the new year.
The Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia gets underway at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit from April 6 to 7.
Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia 2019 provisional calendar:
Rounds 1&2, April 6-7, Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
Rounds 3&4, May 11-12, Chang International Circuit, Thailand
Rounds 5&6, June 22-23, Suzuka Circuit, Japan
Rounds 7&8, July 6-7, Fuji International Speedway, Japan
Rounds 9&10, August 3-4, Korea International Circuit, South Korea
Rounds 11&12, September 27-28, Shanghai International Circuit
