Race Report: GT World Challenge Asia at Mandalika International Circuit
Race 1: Dominance by Yuan and Ye
In a commanding performance, reigning champions Bob Yuan and Leo Ye Hongli secured their third victory in four outings of the 2025 GT World Challenge Asia at the inaugural race held at Mandalika International Circuit, Indonesia. The duo drove the #4 Origine Porsche to a 5.2-second lead over the second-place Climax Racing Mercedes-AMG, shared by Mike Zhou and Ralf Aron, while Anthony Liu and Dorian Boccolacci of Phantom Global Racing completed the podium.
The race featured multiple Full Course Yellow and Safety Car periods, particularly impacting the Silver entries from FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom and Craft-Bamboo, allowing Winhere Harmony’s Chen Weian and Deng Yi to seize Silver class honors, finishing fourth overall. The Am class saw its first winner of the season with Elegant Racing’s Alex Liu and Reinhold Renger besting Garage 75.
Cheng Congfu initially led the race from pole before accidents triggered caution periods that reshuffled the order. Key pit strategies were highlighted as Ye surged from fifth to first during the racing restart, marking a pivotal moment in the race.
Race 1 Results
- Bob Yuan / Leo Ye (Origine Porsche)
- Mike Zhou / Ralf Aron (Climax Racing Mercedes-AMG)
- Anthony Liu / Dorian Boccolacci (Phantom Global Racing)
- Chen Weian / Deng Yi (Winhere Harmony)
- Ruan Cun Fan / Maxime Oosten (Team KRC BMW)
Race 2: Lu and Picariello Prevail in Thrilling Finish
In Race 2, Origine Motorsport repeated their success with Lu Wei and Alessio Picariello driving the #4 Porsche to victory, clocking in 0.6 seconds ahead of Phantom Global’s Anthony Liu and Dorian Boccolacci after a final Safety Car restart. Craft-Bamboo secured the overall podium and Silver class win with Danial Frost and Liang Jiatong following closely behind.
Craft-Bamboo’s strategy faltered when a stop-go penalty disrupted their rhythm, allowing Team 5ZIGEN to contend for the lead. However, dramatic late-race incidents reshuffled positions, with Lu making a crucial pass for the win.
Race 2 Results
- Lu Wei / Alessio Picariello (Origine Porsche)
- Anthony Liu / Dorian Boccolacci (Phantom Global Racing)
- Danial Frost / Liang Jiatong (Craft-Bamboo Mercedes-AMG)
Insights and Context
Both races demonstrated significant strategic racing dynamics, particularly during pit stops and the management of Safety Car periods. The performance of the Silver and Am classes added depth to the competition, with notable standout performances from Winhere Harmony and Elegant Racing. The championship continues on to Chang International Circuit in Thailand for the next round, set for May 30 – June 1.
For teams and drivers, the ongoing season presents critical implications heading into the next event, as Yuan and Ye solidify their title contention with their consistent performances this weekend. The competition holds promise as teams adapt to the unpredictable nature of racing and strategy in this evolving championship.
