GT World Challenge Asia at Okayama: Deng Yi and Luo Kailuo Claim First Victories
Okayama, Japan – Deng Yi and Luo Kailuo secured their inaugural victories in the GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS, converting pole position into a commanding win at Okayama. The race’s low scoring impacted the standings for the title contenders, leaving the championship unresolved until the final event in Beijing.
The Winhere Harmony #96 Ferrari established an early lead, maintaining position despite a multi-car incident at turn one that prompted a Safety Car deployment. Following the restart, Deng rapidly extended his lead, effectively managing the gap to counterbalance a five-second penalty imposed for exceeding the maximum pit time. Luo maintained the advantage, finishing seven seconds clear of the competition.
The Pro-Am podium featured two Porsches, with Phantom Global Racing’s Anthony Liu and Dorian Boccolacci claiming second and Origine Motorsport’s Lu Wei and Bastian Buus finishing third.
In the Silver-Am category, Team KRC’s Ruan Cunfan and Maxime Oosten aimed for the class title but faced a setback. A first-lap incident led to a post-race penalty that demoted them from class victory, allowing Team 5Zigen’s Hiromasa Kitano and Yu Kanamaru to take the top spot.
The race also highlighted Ferrari’s success with an Am class victory from Shigekazu Wakisaka and Kei Nakanishi of LM Corsa, who overcame an early spin.
Deng’s performance, which followed his third consecutive pole position, showcased consistency and speed throughout the race. After the pit stops, he briefly saw his lead challenged by Boccolacci but quickly regained a comfortable margin.
Key race results included:
- Race Winner: Deng Yi/Luo Kailuo (Winhere Harmony #96 Ferrari)
- Pro-Am Podium:
- Liu/Boccolacci (Phantom Global Racing)
- Lu Wei/Bastian Buus (Origine Motorsport)
- Silver-Am Class:
- Kitano/Kanamaru (Team 5Zigen)
- Oosten/Cunfan (Team KRC)
- Am Class:
- Wakisaka/Nakanishi (LM Corsa)
Despite finishing 17th overall, JMR’s Prince Jefri Ibrahim remains in contention for the overall championship heading to Beijing.
Race 1 Highlights:
- Winners and penalties played a critical role in shaping the final positions.
- The next round promises high stakes with the championship implications hanging in the balance.
Upcoming Events: The next race in Beijing is anticipated to be a decisive showdown for drivers and teams as the championship fight intensifies.
