Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific to Field 11 Entries in Suzuka 1000km Return

Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific has confirmed an impressive 11 entries for the highly anticipated return of the Suzuka 1000km, set to take place from September 12-14, 2025. This marks the first running of the iconic Japanese endurance race since 2019, with the German manufacturer poised to be the most represented on the grid.

The 49th edition of the Suzuka 1000km also serves as the fourth and penultimate round of the 2025 SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge, where Porsche currently holds the second position. With a record 11 outright victories in the event already, Porsche aims to extend this legacy in this year’s race, which first began in 1966 and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most revered endurance competitions.

Pro Entries: Three Strong Contenders with Iconic Liveries

Three Pro-class entries will lead Porsche’s charge, each boasting star-studded driver line-ups and liveries paying homage to iconic past Porsche race cars:

• Phantom Global Racing: Fresh from narrowly missing the podium at the 2024 Bathurst 12 Hour and completing the 2024 24 Hours of Spa, the team will field a car featuring the legendary ‘Pink Pig’ livery. First used on the #23 Porsche 917/20 at the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans and later revived on the 2018 Le Mans-winning Porsche 911 RSR, the livery will be driven by Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Dorian Boccolacci, alongside Klaus Bachler and Patric Niederhauser.

• Absolute Racing: Returning to the event where it claimed third place in 2019, Absolute Racing will field the #911 Porsche 911 GT3 R with Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, and Patrick Pilet. The trio, with extensive global endurance racing experience, will race in a striking yellow and black livery inspired by the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning NewMan Joest Racing Porsche 956B.

• Origine Motorsport: Making its Intercontinental GT Challenge debut, the Chinese team – which has secured titles in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and GT World Challenge Asia, plus endurance wins at Sepang and Shanghai since its 2021 formation – will compete in a livery based on Porsche’s first Suzuka 1000km-winning car: the 1981 Kremer Racing 935 K3 driven by Henri Pescarolo and Bob Wollek. The driver line-up includes Bastian Buus, Laurin Heinrich, and former Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Selected Driver Alessio Picariello.

Additional Entries: Eight More Porsche Cars Set to Compete

Eight further Porsche entries will join the grid, including six from GT World Challenge Asia:

• Phantom Global Racing (second entry): Adderly Fong will partner Porsche driver Nico Menzel – who has impressed in this year’s GT World Challenge Asia – in the #13 car.

• Origine Motorsport (second entry): Kerong Li and Anders Fjordbach, fresh from their SilverAm victory at Fuji Speedway, will team up with current championship leader and reigning champion Leo Ye.

• Vollgas Motorsport: In the Korean team’s endurance race debut, Daan Arrow – a regular challenger in the Silver-Am Cup – will be joined by Phil Kim and Alex Jiatong Liang.

• EBM: Adrian D’Silva, who has competed in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, GT World Challenge Asia, and Super GT in 2025, will partner Porsche driver Sven Müller and Harry King in the #61 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

• Porsche Center Okazaki: Hiroaki Nagai and Kazuto Kotaka – who have contested selected GT World Challenge Asia rounds this season – will team up with Super GT race winner Takura Shinohara in the #18 entry.

• AMAC Motorsport: Australian duo Andrew Macpherson and Ben Porter – who have finished on the Am-class podium in all but one race this season – will be joined by multiple Bathurst 12 Hour winner Grant Denyer in the #51 Porsche 911 GT3 R (991.2).

• Absolute Racing (second entry): 2024-2025 Asian Le Mans Series champion Antares Au will drive the #93 car, alongside six-time 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Richard Lietz and 2024 Carrera Cup North America champion Loek Hartog (Porsche Motorsport North America Selected Driver).

• Herberth Motorsport: Completing Porsche’s line-up, the #91 car will be driven by brothers Alfred and Robert Renauer, plus Ralf Bohn – the same trio that won the 2021 Asian Le Mans Series and earned an entry in the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Circuit and Schedule Details

Suzuka Circuit, beloved for its unique figure-of-eight layout, spans 5.807 kilometres and features iconic corners such as the Esses, Spoon Curve, and the challenging 130R.

• Official Practice: Friday, September 12
• Qualifying: Saturday, September 13, at 17:05 local time (UTC+9)
• Race: Sunday, September 14, starting at 12:50 local time, with a duration of six and a half hours

Quotes from Drivers and Team Principals

“It’s great to be racing with Phantom Global Racing again in Asia and to be part of this excellent Pro line-up, especially in such an iconic livery! Klaus and Patric are two brilliant drivers and I’m confident that we can push each other to achieve positive results.” – Dorian Boccolacci, Phantom Global Racing

“Suzuka is an iconic circuit and with Kevin and Patrick alongside me, I think we have everything in place to achieve a good result. It’s a trip and a race I’m genuinely excited about.” – Laurens Vanthoor, Absolute Racing

“It’s a legendary event, and we’ve got the privilege of tackling it with the 1981 winning livery. I can’t wait to get out on track and deliver a strong performance.” – Alessio Picariello, Origine Motorsport

“We’re delighted to confirm a stunning 11 Porsche entries who will take on the historic Suzuka 1000km. We’ve achieved a record-breaking 11 victories in this enduro, and we’re aiming to extend that next month.” – Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Ltd.