GT World Challenge Asia: Fuji Race 1 Report
Fuji, Japan – Reigning champions Bob Yuan and Leo Ye rebounded from a challenging performance in Thailand to secure their third victory of the 2025 GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS. Their win in Race 1 at Fuji Raceway propels them back to the top of the drivers’ standings.
Yuan and Ye dominated the race, finishing ahead of their Origine team-mates Lu Wei and Alessio Picariello. Despite facing a five-second penalty during the second stint, Wei and Picariello effectively managed the challenge to finish second. JMR’s Corvette, driven by Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim and Jordan Love, rounded out the podium in third, finishing two seconds behind.
The Silver class was marked by a notable performance from Yu Kuai and Cheng Congfu (FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom), who achieved a fourth overall finish after benefiting from a late puncture suffered by Harmony. This result extended their class lead with a fourth Silver win this season. Absolute Corse’s late penalty allowed the Nissan duo of Hiromasa "Hirobon" Kitano and Yu Kanamaru to secure sixth overall, winning in the Silver-Am category.
A significant incident occurred with Harmony’s car, managed by Luo Kailuo and Cheng, which initially showcased potential but ultimately suffered a front-right puncture eight minutes from the finish line. The early laps featured fierce battles, especially when Liu Hangcheng and debutant Changwoo Lee crashed out, prompting an early Safety Car period.
Yuan showcased dominance after the restart, increasing his lead from two to over ten seconds. Key moments included Picariello’s swift advancement through the field, overtaking both Yu and Deng before incurring an in-race penalty that prevented further gains. By the end, he had managed to build a five-second buffer over the Corvette.
Overall, the day was challenging for major championship contenders, with JMR’s #99 Corvette and Team KRC’s Ruan Cunfan and Maxime Oosten finishing eighth and 11th respectively due to success penalties accumulated from previous races. Meanwhile, Phantom’s pairing of Liu and Dorian Boccolacci retired after incurring a second penalty for a short pit stop.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s race, Yuan and Ye are set to face maximum success penalties, opening the door for their competitors to capitalize on their current momentum.
Race 1 Results Summary:
- Bob Yuan / Leo Ye (Origine Porsche)
- Lu Wei / Alessio Picariello (Origine Porsche)
- Prince Abu Bakar Ibrahim / Jordan Love (JMR Corvette)
- Yu Kuai / Cheng Congfu (FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom)
- Wang Zhongwei / Patrick Pilet (Absolute Porsche)
- Hiromasa Kitano / Yu Kanamaru (5ZIGEN Nissan)
Images © SRO Motorsports Group
