SRO decided to take action and flip the table regarding the FANATEC GT World Challenge Asia calendar, with the previously announced Japan Cup incorporating a six round schedule that will also see a new country join into the mix, while other two leave it for good.
The decision to take measures to somehow secure a calendar for 2022 comes after two years elaborating plans and finding alternatives, only to see it thrown away as the Asian competition isn’t active since 2019. With absolutely no way to consider going to the Middle East and having to deal with different circumstances in different countries, SRO limited the Asian calendar to three countries: Malaysia, basically the base of their competitions, Japan, the one with biggest presence, and the newcomer Indonesia, the sixth country to hold a round in the series if the plans go ahead.
Of course, the calendar changes came with sacrifices, so China and Thailand, which were in the series since its inception, with the former taking priority in the calendar building, were scrapped for 2022. Most of the mentioned countries are holding national competitions, with only China backing off now due to the internal COVID circumstances.
As it was somewhat hinted in the SRO webpage, Sepang will carry the torch of season opener in late May, with the Japan Cup starting in mid-July with back to back rounds at Suzuka and Fuji. Two new entries end the Japan Cup schedule, as Sugo holds the third round in August and Okayama holds the finale and fifth round of the Asian series in September.
Outside Japan again, the new Mandalika Circuit, which hosted the World Superbike finale this year, welcomes the GTWC Asian competitors for the season finale in late October. Worth reminding that the announced calendar may suffer changes if any of the countries doesn’t offer the safety and health guarantees to host a race, which may even turn the Japanese rounds into Japan Cup only events due to the entry and exit process in the country.
All events will be held in two 60-minute races, so there’s no sign that the Suzuka 10 Hours may be included as part of the calendar, like it happens with other Intercontinental GT Challenge rounds.
2022 FANATEC GT World Challenge Asia calendar:
Sepang - 21-22 May
Suzuka - 16-17 July (Japan Cup)
Fuji - 23-24 July (Japan Cup)
Sugo - 20-21 August (Japan Cup)
Okayama - 24-25 September (Japan Cup)
Mandalika - 22-23 October
PHOTO: SRO
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