Porsche Center Okazaki wins Japan Cup title in GTWC Asia weekend at Okayama

The final weekend of the FANATEC Japan Cup at Okayama saw consistent results help into AAS’ aspirations to the FANATEC GT World Challenge Asia title, a popular win for the No. 555 Maezawa Racing Ferrari, while Hiroaki Nagai and Yuta Kamimura brought the No. 20 Porsche Center Okazaki entry to the Japan Cup title.
 

Race 1 had the No. 37 CRAFT Bamboo Mercedes jumping from the outside of the No. 911 AAS Porsche, but Anthony Liu also brought Hirobon and the No. 500 5ZIGEN Nissan to the party as it stole second place from Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak before a Safety Car entry on Lap 1 as the No. 87 R&B Porsche was speared into the barriers from the middle pack while settling for position. Due to barrier damage added to a smashed car, the race was red flagged some minutes after it.
 
With the No. 51 AMAC Porsche also finding the way to the barriers, the Safety Car had more track time, so the first stint was basically on a status quo, and without room to overtake the No. 500, the No. 911 went to the pit stop as soon as the window started, with the No. 37 and the No. 500 following it on the next lap.
 
The window helped the No. 911 into getting the second place back, and Alessio Picariello started to press Daniel Juncadella, as forcing an error would be the best way to pass as the tight Okayama circuit. The whole rest of the race was spent on the chase, but the No. 911 AAS Porsche could not find room to pass and would eventually be unable to match a consistent pace to match the winning No. 37 CRAFT Bamboo Mercedes. The No. 500 5ZIGEN Nissan was too far behind the leaders, but scored an impressive podium by finishing third.
 
GTWC Asia - Okayama Race 1 results
 
The No. 3 Climax Mercedes got the Am Cup win  from a secure mid table run, while the No. 29 Phantom Pro Audi just had to bring it home as it was the only Silver Cup entry of the field.
 

Whoever stays in front in Race 2 wins the pro driver race that is the first stint, and the No. 911 AAS Porsche did it just right, as Alessio Picariello kept position from pole and left the field behind to settle their differences.
 
While not exactly glued into the No. 911, the No. 555 Maezawa Ferrari was making a surprisingly consistent race in second, with Naoki Yokomizo keeping Picariello on his field of vision, but the No. 85 CRAFT Bamboo Mercedes was approaching fast, so Yokomizo had to switch to defense until the mandatory pit stop.
 
After a brief full course yellow with 15 minutes to go, the No. 555 consolidated the lead won in the pits as the No. 85 was falling into the radar of the No. 911 and the No. 88 Triple Eight Mercedes, and since Jeffrey Lee was really holding pace, it attracted a huge pack until Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak forced his way past to second, while the No. 88 and the No. 1 CarGuy Ferrari being caught in a mess and stopping briefly in the grass with the No. 11 Absolute Audi.
 
The No. 911 had to discount 7 seconds in 9 minutes to fight for the win, but with only 1.5 seconds going down initially and another four seconds going down in the final laps, the No. 555 Maezawa Ferrari secured overall and Pro-Am Cup triumphs.
 
GTWC Asia - Okayama Race 2 results
 
Hiroaki Nagai and Yuta Kamimura (No. 20 PCO Porsche) conquered the Japan Cup with 133 points over the 108 from Satoshi Hoshino and Tomonobu Fujii (No. 47 D’Station Aston Martin). The Am Cup title was settled on Race 1, with the final standings crowining Yamasaki Yusuke and Yorikatsu Tsujiko (No. 7 COMET Ferrari).
 
Anthony Liu, Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak and Abu Bakar Ibrahim will put a triple fight for the title at Sepang on 23 and 24 September, as they have respectively 123, 122 and 107 points.
 
PHOTOS: SRO