The stage is set: Sepang braced for GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS season opener

A new GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS season begins this weekend in Malaysia where 33 GT3 cars will gather for the start of what might well become the most competitive year on record.

That number, which includes 32 of the 33 full-season entries plus one race-by-race contender, is the same as contested 2024’s curtain raiser at Sepang. Amongst it are reigning champions Bob Yuan, Leo Ye Hongli and Origine Motorsport whose unchanged combination is seeking to become GT World Challenge Asia’s first two-time overall title winners.

Standing in their way are a host of familiar faces and fresh protagonists eager to end the Chinese duo’s historical ambitions. But the sheer depth of talent across Pro-Am, Silver and Silver-Am makes earmarking this year’s favourites nigh-on impossible.

Asia’s weekend also coincides with its European counterpart kicking off at Circuit Paul Ricard on Saturday night. Indeed, by Sunday afternoon all four series will have staged their opening rounds, which collectively contribute towards the global GT World Challenge powered by AWS crown. Seven of its 10 registered manufacturers – Audi, BMW, Corvette Racing, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-AMG and Porsche – feature at Sepang.

As ever all the action is live on SRO’s GT World YouTube channel this Saturday and Sunday when two 60-minute races kick off Season 7.

Asia’s best go head-to-head with world’s elite

Yuan and Ye’s title-winning year didn’t begin with victory in Malaysia. Instead, that honour was spread between three drivers who have also returned in 2025: Lu Wei, Franky Cheng and Adderly Fong.

Lu led the standings for much of last year partly thanks to his performances at Sepang. He also partnered new co-driver and Porsche factory ace Bastian Buus at Okayama last year, so there’s a very good chance this combination will push their team-mates hardest of all throughout 2025.

Cheng and Fong, meanwhile, are no longer paired together despite remaining within the Phantom Racing family. Cheng has spent much of his career driving Audis and this year, when he joins fellow race winner James Yu in a particularly potent Silver entry, is no exception. Fong, meanwhile, moves across to one of the team’s two Porsches.

The other features another of this year’s standout combinations: 2023’s overall title winner and reigning Pro-Am champion Anthony Liu and Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific driver Dorian Boccolacci who starred on debut at Okayama last season.

Mercedes-AMG is also packing heat thanks to two factory drivers: Jayden Ojeda and Ralf Aron. The latter is returning to Climax for a second season but first alongside Zhou Bihuang who joined the GT World Challenge Asia winners’ circle in 2024.

Plus Racing’s return boosts BMW’s chances of also finally joining that club. Both the Japanese squad and Team KRC have the new Evo-spec M4 at their disposal.

There are also two Corvettes on the list thanks to JMR, whose successful partnership with Mercedes-AMG ended last year. Princes Jefri and Abu Bakar Ibrahim will undoubtedly be extremely popular on home soil where they are joined by GM works ace Alexander Sims and team regular Jordan Love.

Winhere Harmony Racing will lead Ferrari’s challenge, but Maranello also has both reigning Am class champions amongst its roster in the shape of Garage 75’s David Tjiptobiantoro and Christian Colombo. They will attempt to defend their crown against AMAC’s series stalwarts Andrew Macpherson and Ben Porter, as well as three more protagonists.

And what of the two Lamborghinis, which are now overseen by Absolute Corse? The Huracan scored its first overall win since 2018 last year with VSR.

Nissan is not eligible for global GT World Challenge points but should be highly competitive again with the help of 5ZIGEN, which won a race last season. Yu Kanamaru returns to partner new recruit Motoki Katami.

This year’s only new team, Uno Racing, brings an Audi to the party, while former GT4 champion Reinhold Renger makes his GT3 debut with Elegant eight years after his last appearance.

Elsewhere, the single race-by-race entry comes courtesy of Absolute Corse’s Ferrari.

There are also seven China Cup contenders drawn from the Pro-Am, Silver and Silver-Am classes. Amongst them are reigning champions Cheng and Fong.

Entry list is HERE