2026.08.30
奥迪运动亚洲包揽 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯双回合全场冠军
• 程丛夫与余快在冈山站第一回合斩获赛季第二个全场冠军
• 奥迪军团包揽第二回合头排发车，Andrés Pato 和 Jaxon Evans 实现杆位制胜
• 奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队将在赛季最后两站比赛中四线争冠
• 奥迪军团包揽第二回合头排发车，Andrés Pato 和 Jaxon Evans 实现杆位制胜
• 奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队将在赛季最后两站比赛中四线争冠
2026年8月30日，冈山 —— 在日本冈山国际赛道举行的 AWS 呈现 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯第四站比赛中，奥迪运动亚洲包揽双回合全场冠军。一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队的程丛夫与余快在首回合强势夺冠；Pro-Am 组别搭档 Andrés Pato 与 Jaxon Evans 则在奥迪军团包揽前排发车位后，从杆位起步驾驶第二代奥迪 R8 LMS GT3 evo II 赛车，于第二回合斩获令人瞩目的全场胜利。
“奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队与奥迪 R8 LMS 赛车在 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯冈山站度过了一个堪称完美的周末。两支车组均斩获全场胜利，完美兑现了我们在本周末之前设定的目标 —— 将速度优势转化为积分。如今，随着赛季还剩两个主场分站，程丛夫与余快已稳居全场年度冠军的有力争夺行列。好戏开场！”奥迪运动（亚洲）客户赛车部门负责人柏艾力（Alexander Blackie）表示。
整个周末状态出色的程丛夫与余快在首回合从前排发车。尽管赛道状况变幻莫测，第二代奥迪 R8 LMS GT3 evo II 赛车仍能以其出众的操控性完美适应全长3.703公里、以技术性著称的冈山赛道。一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队在进站换人时选择保持干胎的决策成为制胜关键，余快接棒后以领跑之姿迅猛出击，最终一举夺得全场胜利。
这场33圈的首回合较量中，Pro-Am 组别搭档 Andrés Pato 在首段表现稳健，随后奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队选择在赛程过半时更换雨胎，Jaxon Evans 接棒后上演了精彩的反击。当天空突然放晴时，车队迅速在全场黄旗期间召回 Evans 进站，这次进站损失了三个名次。在剩余20分钟的激烈角逐中，Evans 上演了令人瞩目的追击，连超六个名次攀升至全场前九，这对搭档最终与 Pro-Am 组别领奖台失之交臂。
第二回合比赛中，全场目光都聚焦在 Evans 与 Pato 身上，他们以连续第二场全场胜利创造了奥迪运动亚洲的历史成绩。这对搭档在全部37圈比赛中始终领跑，Pato 顽强抵御了持续不断的压力，以及比赛末段降雨带来的变数，最终一鼓作气，冲线夺冠。与此同时，程丛夫与余快尽管承受了高达26秒的获胜加时，仍以全场第八名完赛，并斩获 GT3 Silver 组别亚军领奖台。
出色的战绩意味着程丛夫与余快仍稳居 GT3 车手全场年度冠军的有力争夺行列，目前与积分榜榜首仅差23分，并以13分优势重返 Silver 组别积分榜榜首。与此同时，在赛季剩余两站之际，Pato 与 Evans 暂列车手全场积分榜第六位、Pro-Am 组别积分榜第五位。总而言之，奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队仍具备向2026赛季 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯 GT3车手年度冠军、车队年度冠军、Silver 组别年度冠军及中国杯年度冠军四项冠军头衔发起冲击的实力。
“奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队与奥迪 R8 LMS 赛车在 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯冈山站度过了一个堪称完美的周末。两支车组均斩获全场胜利，完美兑现了我们在本周末之前设定的目标 —— 将速度优势转化为积分。如今，随着赛季还剩两个主场分站，程丛夫与余快已稳居全场年度冠军的有力争夺行列。好戏开场！”奥迪运动（亚洲）客户赛车部门负责人柏艾力（Alexander Blackie）表示。
整个周末状态出色的程丛夫与余快在首回合从前排发车。尽管赛道状况变幻莫测，第二代奥迪 R8 LMS GT3 evo II 赛车仍能以其出众的操控性完美适应全长3.703公里、以技术性著称的冈山赛道。一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队在进站换人时选择保持干胎的决策成为制胜关键，余快接棒后以领跑之姿迅猛出击，最终一举夺得全场胜利。
这场33圈的首回合较量中，Pro-Am 组别搭档 Andrés Pato 在首段表现稳健，随后奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队选择在赛程过半时更换雨胎，Jaxon Evans 接棒后上演了精彩的反击。当天空突然放晴时，车队迅速在全场黄旗期间召回 Evans 进站，这次进站损失了三个名次。在剩余20分钟的激烈角逐中，Evans 上演了令人瞩目的追击，连超六个名次攀升至全场前九，这对搭档最终与 Pro-Am 组别领奖台失之交臂。
第二回合比赛中，全场目光都聚焦在 Evans 与 Pato 身上，他们以连续第二场全场胜利创造了奥迪运动亚洲的历史成绩。这对搭档在全部37圈比赛中始终领跑，Pato 顽强抵御了持续不断的压力，以及比赛末段降雨带来的变数，最终一鼓作气，冲线夺冠。与此同时，程丛夫与余快尽管承受了高达26秒的获胜加时，仍以全场第八名完赛，并斩获 GT3 Silver 组别亚军领奖台。
出色的战绩意味着程丛夫与余快仍稳居 GT3 车手全场年度冠军的有力争夺行列，目前与积分榜榜首仅差23分，并以13分优势重返 Silver 组别积分榜榜首。与此同时，在赛季剩余两站之际，Pato 与 Evans 暂列车手全场积分榜第六位、Pro-Am 组别积分榜第五位。总而言之，奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队仍具备向2026赛季 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯 GT3车手年度冠军、车队年度冠军、Silver 组别年度冠军及中国杯年度冠军四项冠军头衔发起冲击的实力。
第一回合
在高温高湿的比赛环境中，程丛夫在首回合从前排迅猛发车，躲过了比赛初期的碰撞，并在混乱的车阵中机敏地应对波折不断的起步阶段。这位一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队名将在开局几圈中抵御了后方的多次进攻，当小雨开始降临冈山赛道时，他已与身后对手拉开了两秒以上的差距。
尽管在激烈的起步混战中丢掉了一个名次，奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队的 Andrés Pato 从第13位发车后已追回两个名次。此时降雨导致赛道表面抓地力急剧下降，两台赛车撞上护墙，赛会随即出示全场黄旗。
全场黄旗从进站窗口开启一直延续到关闭，由于天气状况不明，各车队面临一场策略赌博 —— 是更换雨胎还是保持干胎。当程丛夫驾驶一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队的第二代奥迪 R8 LMS GT3 evo II 赛车以全场第二位驶入维修区时，车队选择为余快的驾驶时段保持干胎。
瞬息万变的天气带来的不确定性令余快接棒时处于领跑位置。然而，姊妹车起初选择了雨胎，但很快发现阵雨已经过去，车队立即召回 Jaxon Evans 换回干胎。但损失的时间令 Evans 名次下滑至第15位，在 Pro-Am 组别中位列第七，此时车阵在安全车带领下等待比赛重启。
余快完美掌控了比赛重启的节奏，瞬间拉开了与 Silver 组别对手的差距，向着方格旗迅猛冲刺，并做出了全场最快圈速，最终代表奥迪运动亚洲斩获了他职业生涯中于冈山的第二场胜利。
比赛恢复绿旗，Evans 便立刻发起了猛烈的追击，在剩余20分钟内从第15位一路攀升至第九位。尽管比赛末段再度出现的降雨再次提升了比赛难度，这位新西兰天赋车手保持着毫不动摇的专注，冲入全场积分区，但可惜与 Pro-Am 组别领奖台失之交臂。
程丛夫与余快冲线夺冠，这对表现出色的搭档斩获了本赛季的第二个全场冠军，重返 Silver 组别积分榜榜首，并攀升至 GT3 车手积分榜第三位，与榜首仅差9分。与此同时，Pato 与 Evans 的出色反击令他们在 Pro-Am 组别积分榜上升一位至第五位。
第二回合
Jaxon Evans 从杆位发车开启第二回合，以凶悍的发车表明了争胜的决心，他在首圈迅速起步并守住了领先优势。余快起初紧随 Evans 之后位列第二，随后在激烈的混战中丢掉了一个名次。
首圈发生多起事故，赛会出示全场黄旗以清理散落满赛道的碎片。Evans 在比赛重启时再次迅猛启动，而余快则在随后的混战中掉落至第5位。
Evans 持续保持迅猛节奏，全力在进站换人之前扩大领先优势，并做出了全场最快圈速。当他驶入维修区将赛车交接给奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队队友 Andrés Pato 时，Jaxon 已建立了超过2.5秒的领先优势。
与此同时，余快在赛程过半时全力冲击全场第四位，此前他曾领跑 Silver 组别。但因车队首回合的全场冠军及 Silver 组别身份而追加的26秒获胜加时，令其队友程丛夫在驾驶时段中不可避免地将面临艰巨的挑战。
当 Pato 重新领跑比赛时，程丛夫从第11位接过赛车果断出击，伴随着头灯的闪烁。一次完美的内线超越令程丛夫迅速跻身前十、进入全场积分区，随后他开始缩小与下一个目标之间5秒的差距。
领先集团中，Pato 保持高度专注，将紧追不舍的对手挡在身后，机敏地超越慢车，并始终紧盯胜利目标。随着比赛时间一分一秒流逝，这位印尼车手承受的压力有增无减，挡风玻璃上出现的雨点更令这比赛的最后时刻扣人心弦。
当 Pato 驶入最后一圈，他的对手发起了最后孤注一掷的夺冠尝试，两车在冲线前的最后几米发生车身接触。但这位印尼车手势不可挡，全力以赴驾驶第二代奥迪 R8 LMS GT3 evo II 赛车冲线，仅以0.089秒的微弱优势为奥迪运动亚洲斩获了 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯连续第二场胜利。
在高温高湿的比赛环境中，程丛夫在首回合从前排迅猛发车，躲过了比赛初期的碰撞，并在混乱的车阵中机敏地应对波折不断的起步阶段。这位一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队名将在开局几圈中抵御了后方的多次进攻，当小雨开始降临冈山赛道时，他已与身后对手拉开了两秒以上的差距。
尽管在激烈的起步混战中丢掉了一个名次，奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队的 Andrés Pato 从第13位发车后已追回两个名次。此时降雨导致赛道表面抓地力急剧下降，两台赛车撞上护墙，赛会随即出示全场黄旗。
全场黄旗从进站窗口开启一直延续到关闭，由于天气状况不明，各车队面临一场策略赌博 —— 是更换雨胎还是保持干胎。当程丛夫驾驶一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队的第二代奥迪 R8 LMS GT3 evo II 赛车以全场第二位驶入维修区时，车队选择为余快的驾驶时段保持干胎。
瞬息万变的天气带来的不确定性令余快接棒时处于领跑位置。然而，姊妹车起初选择了雨胎，但很快发现阵雨已经过去，车队立即召回 Jaxon Evans 换回干胎。但损失的时间令 Evans 名次下滑至第15位，在 Pro-Am 组别中位列第七，此时车阵在安全车带领下等待比赛重启。
余快完美掌控了比赛重启的节奏，瞬间拉开了与 Silver 组别对手的差距，向着方格旗迅猛冲刺，并做出了全场最快圈速，最终代表奥迪运动亚洲斩获了他职业生涯中于冈山的第二场胜利。
比赛恢复绿旗，Evans 便立刻发起了猛烈的追击，在剩余20分钟内从第15位一路攀升至第九位。尽管比赛末段再度出现的降雨再次提升了比赛难度，这位新西兰天赋车手保持着毫不动摇的专注，冲入全场积分区，但可惜与 Pro-Am 组别领奖台失之交臂。
程丛夫与余快冲线夺冠，这对表现出色的搭档斩获了本赛季的第二个全场冠军，重返 Silver 组别积分榜榜首，并攀升至 GT3 车手积分榜第三位，与榜首仅差9分。与此同时，Pato 与 Evans 的出色反击令他们在 Pro-Am 组别积分榜上升一位至第五位。
第二回合
Jaxon Evans 从杆位发车开启第二回合，以凶悍的发车表明了争胜的决心，他在首圈迅速起步并守住了领先优势。余快起初紧随 Evans 之后位列第二，随后在激烈的混战中丢掉了一个名次。
首圈发生多起事故，赛会出示全场黄旗以清理散落满赛道的碎片。Evans 在比赛重启时再次迅猛启动，而余快则在随后的混战中掉落至第5位。
Evans 持续保持迅猛节奏，全力在进站换人之前扩大领先优势，并做出了全场最快圈速。当他驶入维修区将赛车交接给奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队队友 Andrés Pato 时，Jaxon 已建立了超过2.5秒的领先优势。
与此同时，余快在赛程过半时全力冲击全场第四位，此前他曾领跑 Silver 组别。但因车队首回合的全场冠军及 Silver 组别身份而追加的26秒获胜加时，令其队友程丛夫在驾驶时段中不可避免地将面临艰巨的挑战。
当 Pato 重新领跑比赛时，程丛夫从第11位接过赛车果断出击，伴随着头灯的闪烁。一次完美的内线超越令程丛夫迅速跻身前十、进入全场积分区，随后他开始缩小与下一个目标之间5秒的差距。
领先集团中，Pato 保持高度专注，将紧追不舍的对手挡在身后，机敏地超越慢车，并始终紧盯胜利目标。随着比赛时间一分一秒流逝，这位印尼车手承受的压力有增无减，挡风玻璃上出现的雨点更令这比赛的最后时刻扣人心弦。
当 Pato 驶入最后一圈，他的对手发起了最后孤注一掷的夺冠尝试，两车在冲线前的最后几米发生车身接触。但这位印尼车手势不可挡，全力以赴驾驶第二代奥迪 R8 LMS GT3 evo II 赛车冲线，仅以0.089秒的微弱优势为奥迪运动亚洲斩获了 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯连续第二场胜利。
程丛夫在第二回合的最后阶段同样历经起伏，他在最后几分钟连夺两个位置，最终以全场第八名冲线，并斩获 Silver 组别亚军领奖台。考虑到严苛的获胜加时带来的不利影响，这是一个非常出色的成绩。
AWS 呈现 GT 世界挑战赛亚洲杯
第四站成绩
第一回合
1. 程丛夫/余快/Silver/一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
9. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
第二回合
1. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
8. 程丛夫/余快/Silver/一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
第一回合
1. 程丛夫/余快/Silver/一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
9. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
第二回合
1. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
8. 程丛夫/余快/Silver/一汽奥迪运动亚洲魅影车队
Audi Sport Asia takes double overall race win at GT World Challenge Asia
• Cheng Congfu and Yu Kuai score second outright victory of season in Okayama race one
• Pole-to-flag triumph for Andrés Pato and Jaxon Evans in race two after all-Audi front row lock-out
• Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom in quadruple title contention with two rounds remaining
• Pole-to-flag triumph for Andrés Pato and Jaxon Evans in race two after all-Audi front row lock-out
• Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom in quadruple title contention with two rounds remaining
Okayama, August 30, 2026 – Audi Sport Asia celebrated double outright GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS victories in round four at Japan’s Okayama International Circuit. FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom’s Cheng Congfu and Yu Kuai powered to glory in the opening race, while Pro-Am pair Andrés Pato and Jaxon Evans took a spectacular race two overall win in the sister Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II from pole after an all-Audi front row start.
“What a weekend it was for Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom and the Audi R8 LMS at GT World Challenge Asia in Okayama. An overall race win for both of our driver squads delivered on exactly what we had set out to do ahead of the weekend - turn our pace into championship points. Now, with two home rounds to go, Cheng Congfu and Yu Kuai have put themselves right in the overall title hunt. It’s game on!”, said Alexander Blackie, Head of Audi Sport customer racing Asia.
On dazzling form all weekend, Cheng and Yu started race one from the front row, the agility of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II proving perfectly suited to the technical 3.703km Okayama circuit, despite unpredictably changeable track conditions. FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom’s decision to remain on slicks at the driver changeover proved pivotal, and Yu stormed into his stint at the front of the pack, going on to take a triumphant overall victory.
The 33-lap opening encounter featured a strong recovery drive from Jaxon Evans after Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom elected to switch to wet weather tyres at the mid-way point after a solid opening run by Pro-Am team mate Andrés Pato. When the skies suddenly cleared, the team quickly recalled Evans under a Full Course Yellow, the stop costing three positions. Over the fast and furious remaining 20 minutes, an eye-catching charge by Evans saw him gain six places and move into the top nine overall, the pair finishing just shy of the Pro-Am podium.
All eyes were on Evans and Pato in race two as they made Audi Sport Asia history with a second consecutive overall win. The pair led the entire 37-laps, and Pato heroically withstood extreme, unrelenting pressure - plus the added drama of late-race rainfall - to storm across the line to victory. Meanwhile Cheng and Yu, despite a hefty total of 26 seconds of success penalties, finished eighth overall, taking a second-place GT3 Silver podium.
The stellar results mean Cheng and Yu remain in strong overall GT3 Drivers’ title contention, now just 23 points off the top of the leaderboard, and return to the lead of the Silver standings with a 13-point advantage. Meanwhile, Pato and Evans are sixth in the overall standings and fifth in the Pro-Am chase with two rounds remaining. All in all, Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom remain in contention to fight for the 2026 GT3 Drivers, Teams, Silver and China Cup GT World Challenge Asia titles.
“What a weekend it was for Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom and the Audi R8 LMS at GT World Challenge Asia in Okayama. An overall race win for both of our driver squads delivered on exactly what we had set out to do ahead of the weekend - turn our pace into championship points. Now, with two home rounds to go, Cheng Congfu and Yu Kuai have put themselves right in the overall title hunt. It’s game on!”, said Alexander Blackie, Head of Audi Sport customer racing Asia.
On dazzling form all weekend, Cheng and Yu started race one from the front row, the agility of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II proving perfectly suited to the technical 3.703km Okayama circuit, despite unpredictably changeable track conditions. FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom’s decision to remain on slicks at the driver changeover proved pivotal, and Yu stormed into his stint at the front of the pack, going on to take a triumphant overall victory.
The 33-lap opening encounter featured a strong recovery drive from Jaxon Evans after Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom elected to switch to wet weather tyres at the mid-way point after a solid opening run by Pro-Am team mate Andrés Pato. When the skies suddenly cleared, the team quickly recalled Evans under a Full Course Yellow, the stop costing three positions. Over the fast and furious remaining 20 minutes, an eye-catching charge by Evans saw him gain six places and move into the top nine overall, the pair finishing just shy of the Pro-Am podium.
All eyes were on Evans and Pato in race two as they made Audi Sport Asia history with a second consecutive overall win. The pair led the entire 37-laps, and Pato heroically withstood extreme, unrelenting pressure - plus the added drama of late-race rainfall - to storm across the line to victory. Meanwhile Cheng and Yu, despite a hefty total of 26 seconds of success penalties, finished eighth overall, taking a second-place GT3 Silver podium.
The stellar results mean Cheng and Yu remain in strong overall GT3 Drivers’ title contention, now just 23 points off the top of the leaderboard, and return to the lead of the Silver standings with a 13-point advantage. Meanwhile, Pato and Evans are sixth in the overall standings and fifth in the Pro-Am chase with two rounds remaining. All in all, Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom remain in contention to fight for the 2026 GT3 Drivers, Teams, Silver and China Cup GT World Challenge Asia titles.
Race 1
In stifling heat and humidity, Cheng Congfu blasted away from the front row in race one, surviving early contact and deftly negotiating an eventful start as the field thundered into the opening lap. The FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom star fought off repeated challenges over the opening laps, and had pulled out a gap of more than two seconds from his rivals as light rain began to fall on the Okayama track.
After initially dropping a position in the heat of the start, Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom’s Andrés Pato had gained two places from the team’s P13 grid spot when a Full Course Yellow was called after two cars ended up in the barriers in as the rain eviscerated surface grip.
The pit window opened and closed under FCY and, with weather conditions uncertain, teams were presented with the gamble of whether to switch to wets or remain on slick tyres. As Cheng brought the FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II into the pits in P2 overall, the team picked slicks for Yu Kuai’s stint.
The uncertainties cause by the rapidly-changing weather meant Yu emerged into his stint in the race lead. However, after wets were initially selected for the sister car, it quickly became apparent the shower had moved on and the team immediately recalled Jaxon Evans to switch back to slicks. The time lost dropped Evans down the order to P15, seventh of the Pro-Am runners, as the field lined up behind the safety car for the restart.
Yu controlled the restart perfectly, instantly pulling a gap from his Silver rival and storming off towards the chequered flag, setting the fastest lap of the race on the way to his second career Okayama victory with Audi Sport Asia.
As soon as the track went green, Evans mounted a mighty charge, ploughing his way up the order from P15 to ninth over the remaining 20 minutes. Despite more rain spots in the closing stages once again upping the ante, the New Zealand talent maintained his unwavering focus to gallop into the overall points, just missing out on a Pro-Am podium.
Cheng and Yu were victorious at the flag, the impressive duo taking their second overall victory of the season together, reclaiming the lead of the Silver championship standings, and climbing to third on the GT3 Drivers’ leaderboard, just nine points off the top. Meanwhile, a superb comeback by Pato and Evans saw them move up a place to fifth in the Pro-Am standings.
Race 2
Jaxon Evans made his intentions crystal clear as he launched into race two from pole, an aggressive getaway seeing him bolt into the opening lap and hold the advantage. Yu Kuai initially stayed with Evans in P2 before dropping a position in the heat of battle.
Multiple opening lap incidents brought a Full Course Yellow as the debris-strewn track was cleared and, while Evans made a second quick getaway at the restart, Yu was pushed down to P5 in the ensuing melee.
Evans continued to set a scorching pace as he pushed to maximise the advantage ahead of the driver changeover, setting the fastest lap of the race on the way. When he dived into the pits to hand over to Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom team mate Andrés Pato, Jaxon had built up a lead of more than 2.5 seconds.
Yu, meanwhile, was challenging hard for fourth overall at the half way mark having held the lead of Silver class, but the additional 26 seconds of success penalties courtesy of the team’s race one overall victory and Silver status, meant team mate Cheng Congfu would inevitably have a mountain to climb over his stint.
As Pato resumed the race lead, Cheng took up the gauntlet from P11, headlights ablaze. A wheel-perfect move on the inside saw Cheng quickly into the top 10 and overall points, before he set about closing the five-second gap to his next target.
Up at the front, Pato was laser-focussed on keeping his insistent rival at bay, skilfully negotiating backmarkers and keeping his eye firmly on the prize. As the minutes ticked down, the pressure on the Indonesian only intensified, and the appearance of spots of rain on the windscreen added to the nail-biting final moments.
As Pato roared into the final lap, his rival made a final desperate bid to snatch victory, the pair rubbing doors in the last metres before the flag. The Indonesian was not to be denied though, digging deep and powering the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II across the line to take a second consecutive GT World Challenge Asia win for Audi Sport Asia by a margin of just 0.089 of a second.
Cheng also had an eventful finale to race two, gaining two places in the closing minutes to cross the line P8 overall and collecting a Silver podium in second, a strong result given the handicap of the weighty success penalties.
In stifling heat and humidity, Cheng Congfu blasted away from the front row in race one, surviving early contact and deftly negotiating an eventful start as the field thundered into the opening lap. The FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom star fought off repeated challenges over the opening laps, and had pulled out a gap of more than two seconds from his rivals as light rain began to fall on the Okayama track.
After initially dropping a position in the heat of the start, Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom’s Andrés Pato had gained two places from the team’s P13 grid spot when a Full Course Yellow was called after two cars ended up in the barriers in as the rain eviscerated surface grip.
The pit window opened and closed under FCY and, with weather conditions uncertain, teams were presented with the gamble of whether to switch to wets or remain on slick tyres. As Cheng brought the FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II into the pits in P2 overall, the team picked slicks for Yu Kuai’s stint.
The uncertainties cause by the rapidly-changing weather meant Yu emerged into his stint in the race lead. However, after wets were initially selected for the sister car, it quickly became apparent the shower had moved on and the team immediately recalled Jaxon Evans to switch back to slicks. The time lost dropped Evans down the order to P15, seventh of the Pro-Am runners, as the field lined up behind the safety car for the restart.
Yu controlled the restart perfectly, instantly pulling a gap from his Silver rival and storming off towards the chequered flag, setting the fastest lap of the race on the way to his second career Okayama victory with Audi Sport Asia.
As soon as the track went green, Evans mounted a mighty charge, ploughing his way up the order from P15 to ninth over the remaining 20 minutes. Despite more rain spots in the closing stages once again upping the ante, the New Zealand talent maintained his unwavering focus to gallop into the overall points, just missing out on a Pro-Am podium.
Cheng and Yu were victorious at the flag, the impressive duo taking their second overall victory of the season together, reclaiming the lead of the Silver championship standings, and climbing to third on the GT3 Drivers’ leaderboard, just nine points off the top. Meanwhile, a superb comeback by Pato and Evans saw them move up a place to fifth in the Pro-Am standings.
Race 2
Jaxon Evans made his intentions crystal clear as he launched into race two from pole, an aggressive getaway seeing him bolt into the opening lap and hold the advantage. Yu Kuai initially stayed with Evans in P2 before dropping a position in the heat of battle.
Multiple opening lap incidents brought a Full Course Yellow as the debris-strewn track was cleared and, while Evans made a second quick getaway at the restart, Yu was pushed down to P5 in the ensuing melee.
Evans continued to set a scorching pace as he pushed to maximise the advantage ahead of the driver changeover, setting the fastest lap of the race on the way. When he dived into the pits to hand over to Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom team mate Andrés Pato, Jaxon had built up a lead of more than 2.5 seconds.
Yu, meanwhile, was challenging hard for fourth overall at the half way mark having held the lead of Silver class, but the additional 26 seconds of success penalties courtesy of the team’s race one overall victory and Silver status, meant team mate Cheng Congfu would inevitably have a mountain to climb over his stint.
As Pato resumed the race lead, Cheng took up the gauntlet from P11, headlights ablaze. A wheel-perfect move on the inside saw Cheng quickly into the top 10 and overall points, before he set about closing the five-second gap to his next target.
Up at the front, Pato was laser-focussed on keeping his insistent rival at bay, skilfully negotiating backmarkers and keeping his eye firmly on the prize. As the minutes ticked down, the pressure on the Indonesian only intensified, and the appearance of spots of rain on the windscreen added to the nail-biting final moments.
As Pato roared into the final lap, his rival made a final desperate bid to snatch victory, the pair rubbing doors in the last metres before the flag. The Indonesian was not to be denied though, digging deep and powering the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II across the line to take a second consecutive GT World Challenge Asia win for Audi Sport Asia by a margin of just 0.089 of a second.
Cheng also had an eventful finale to race two, gaining two places in the closing minutes to cross the line P8 overall and collecting a Silver podium in second, a strong result given the handicap of the weighty success penalties.
GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS
Round 4 Results
Race 1
1. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
9. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro/Am/Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
Race 2
1. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro/Am/Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
8. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
Race 1
1. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
9. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro/Am/Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
Race 2
1. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro/Am/Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
8. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom
