GT World Challenge Asia 2026 Season Preview: Sepang Circuit Awaits
The 2026 GT World Challenge Asia season kicks off this weekend at Sepang Circuit with a competitive 23-car entry. Teams are preparing for what promises to be an intense battle, highlighted by revised pit stop success penalties and notable entries.
Revised Penalties and Regulations
In a move to enhance competition, the series has maintained its pit stop success penalties for the 2026 season. Top three finishers in the Pro-Am, Silver-Am, and Am categories will face increased pit times of 15, 10, and 5 seconds for their next race. Similarly, the Silver class now imposes penalties of 26, 21, and 16 seconds for Silver/Silver driver combinations.
Porsche Dominance
Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific leads the charge, fielding eight entries at Sepang, reflecting a continued commitment to defend their drivers’ and teams’ titles following three consecutive GT3 Teams’ Championships. “We expect strong competition,” commented PMAP Managing Director Alexandre Gibot, “but we are up for the fight.” The introduction of the 2026 Porsche 911 GT3 R marks a significant development for the brand as it aims to capture victories across diverse locations including Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and Japan.
The lineup includes drivers Lu Wei, Alessio Picariello, and Laurin Heinrich, with PMAP entering new and returning talent amid the pressure of title defense.
New Entries and Team Updates
AMAC Motorsport has made headlines by transitioning to the current-spec GT3 R after years of competing with older models. Owner Andrew Macpherson stated, “Having the current spec car will give us the best possible opportunity for consistent success in the Am class.”
In contrast, Absolute Racing has reconfigured its driver pairings, with Bastian Buus joining newly promoted driver Alessandro Ghiretti in the #911 Porsche.
Additionally, BMW Team Studie unveiled a striking new livery for its M4 GT3 EVO, themed around the anime series Bleach. Team owner Yasuaki ‘Bob’ Suzuki expressed excitement about integrating this unique design into the upcoming races. The team will also participate in the 50th Suzuka 1000km race on September 13, marking their return to this historic event.
Broadcast Details
Live coverage of qualifying and both races will be available via the SRO GT World YouTube channel, featuring commentary from Ben Constanduros.
As the season commences, teams and drivers will be closely monitored as they vie for supremacy in Asia’s premier GT series.
