Triple Eight and EBM celebrate GTWC Asia wins at Sepang

Two years, a lot of cancellations, some difficulties that are still present, but finally the FANATEC GT World Challenge Asia appears to have finally passed all of that with the first round being held since the end of the 2019, as Triple Eight JMR and EBM Giga Racing shared the honors from the Sepang double header.

Naturally, with most racing teams in Asia being affected and the Chinese teams confined inside the country due to anti-COVID measures, only eight GT3s were present and most of it being from Australasia, but it was still diverse enough to call it international.

The No. 27 Yogibo Ferrari led the start of the first race, but the No. 888 Triple Eight Mercedes was coming with a chasing pack that wouldn't allow Naoki Yokomizo to go away. After nearly 10 minutes, Yokomizo started progressing slowly to open the gap, especially with Abu Ibrahim being kept busy trying to hold second place with the No. 888 until the 17 minute mark, when the Mercedes was forced to park in the garage for a brief moment.

The No. 27 was firm in the lead for the whole first stint, with the No. 777 X Works Audi isolated in second and the No. 99 Triple Eight Mercedes leading the only pack of cars out there. Most of the competitors delivered their cars early in the pit window to their second drivers, an attempt to turn fortunes around later in the race. Shogo Mitsuyama was brought in to the No. 27 late in the window, and the difference in pace to the pros in place was costly, as the Ferrari was down to fifth place.

The No. 99 Triple Eight Mercedes was in control when the second half started, but Earl Bamber was trying to put a fight in the No. 11 EBM Porsche, although his stint long effort only reduced a second of the initial 5 second deficit, so Foster's flawless drive was more than enough to hand the win to the No. 99.

GTWC Asia Sepang - Race 1 results

In Race 2, the No. 11 EBM Porsche was leading the field and nearly had the help of the sister No. 9 car to hold the other cars, but Nick Foster was quick to get back the second place in the No. 99 Triple Eight Mercedes. Being the one in front this time, Earl Bamber was able to open the gap and not make himself prey for Foster, and after the first 10 minutes, the No. 99 was actually more likely to lose second place to the No. 9 than to mount an attack to the No. 11.

Unlike in Race 1, the first stint was stretched for most cars, with the top two being the late stoppers, which would leave 20 minutes for Adrian D'Silva to keep the good work done by Bamber, and for Abu Ibrahim to try hard to close down the gap. Ibrahim was faster and took off a big chunk of the gap, but D'Silva still had enough cushion to celebrate the win with nearly 5 seconds ahead.

GTWC Asia Sepang - Race 2 results

Adrian D’Silva and Earl Bamber lead the standings with 43 points against the 35 of Jeffri Ibrahim and Nick Foster, while Reid Harker and Setiawan Santoso come in third with 30 points. The next round is expected for 16-17 July at Suzuka, which will also open the new Japan Cup, and with broader regulations and local interest, the grid is likely to have an improvement.

PHOTOS: SRO