Five 2019 evolution Audi R8 LMS GT3 entries are set to thunder off the starting grid at the opening rounds of Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia this weekend at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. In addition to having their eyes on the overall prize, the pairings will compete across three classes at the season launch of Asia’s most competitive multi-marque GT3 championship.
Audi Sport Asia drivers Martin Rump of Estonia and Malaysian FIA WEC hero Weiron Tan fill one of the two Audi Sport Asia Team Absolute entries. The pair will be on the hunt for the overall championship title as well as the Silver Cup trophy. A sister car is entered for fellow Audi Sport Asia driver Cheng Congfu, and seasoned privateer Sun Jingzu, the strong Chinese Pro/Am pairing a regular feature across Asia’s most high profile series and events.
Audi Sport Asia Team TSRT enters rising Chinese star David Chen alongside 2015 Japan GT champion and former Macau Grand Prix winner André Couto. Like Rump and Tan, the duo will be on the hunt for the Silver Cup title as well as overall glory.
Thailand-based Audi customer team B-Quik Racing enters team principal and B-Quik CEO Henk Kiks of the Netherlands and former Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup Am and Masters champion Daniel Bilski. Bilski was behind the wheel of the new Audi R8 LMS GT3 at the opening rounds of the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup in Adelaide last month, where the Hong Kong-based Australian just missed out on a podium after an eye-catching run in round one. The B-Quik Racing duo will be a force to be reckoned with amongst the Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia Am Cup ranks.
Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup vice-champion Bhurit Bhirombhakdi teams up with fellow Thai Kantasak Kusiri in the Pro/Am category aboard the Singha Plan-B by Absolute Audi R8 LMS GT3. Bhirombhakdi made a storming return to motorsport in 2017, lifting the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup Am title that year before pushing eventual 2018 champion Andrew Haryanto right down to the wire in an epic battle the following season. Kusiri, a Thailand Super Series Super Car GTM runner-up in 2017, brings a wealth of experience to the line-up and the team will be one to watch in the Pro/Am class.
The 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia begins on Friday, April 5, with two 45-minute practice sessions. The two 15-minute qualifying sessions that set the grids for rounds one and two begin at 12:23 on Saturday, April 6, with the first of the two 60-minute races following at 16:15. Race two begins at 10:50 on Sunday, April 7 (all times UTC +8).
Both qualifying sessions and races will be broadcasted live on Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia’s Facebook page and SRO’s GT World YouTube channel.
