Following its season opener alongside the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia heads to Japan for the first time this year. The iconic Mobility Resort Motegi will host Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2025 season, marking the championship’s debut at the technical 4.8-kilometre circuit.
Racing This Weekend
Track action gets underway with practice on Friday, 18 April, before qualifying begins at 08:20 local time on Saturday, 19 April. Race 1 starts later that day at 12:45 and lights out for the second event is at 10:30 on Sunday, 20 April, with races being streamed on the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia website. The live races can also be streamed on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yL0o5kJmlI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNYD43ClbQI
Strong Start in Shanghai
The season began with a dramatic weekend in Shanghai. Enzo Trulli (TORO Racing), part of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Talent Pool Presented by Michelin, and Dylan Pereira (Team Shanghai Yonda BWT) each claimed a race victory. Pereira arrives in Japan leading the championship standings.
Team Porsche New Zealand’s Brock Gilchrist stood on the podium twice during the season opener but will sit out Motegi after undergoing surgery for appendicitis. Other early podium finishers include Amer Harris Jefry (Z.SPEED Motorsport) and Rodrigo Dias Almeida (Team Jebsen).
Competitive Field Across All Categories
In Pro-Am, TORO Racing’s Eric Zang and newcomer Wang Zhongwei (Origine Motorsport) took one win apiece in Shanghai. Reigning champion Bao Jinlong (BWT Phantom Global Racing) will be aiming to return to the top step, while Francis Tjia (OpenRoad Racing) and Li Xuanyu (Z.SPEED Motorsport) both showed promising pace and consistency.
The Am class is shaping up for a close fight. Munkong Sathienthirakul (EBM), runner-up in 2024, opened his campaign with back-to-back wins over 2024 champion Eric Kwong (Bergwerk Motorsport), who joined him on the podium in both races. Additional contenders Hu Bo (610 Racing) and Yan Chuang (Phantom Global Racing) also secured podium finishes.
The new Masters class for drivers aged 50 and above saw Adrian D’Silva (EBM) take a commanding double victory in Shanghai. John Shen (Modena Motorsports) and Christian Chia (OpenRoad Racing) each scored double podiums and will look to challenge for the top step this weekend.
Driver Line-Up Changes for Motegi
A few team changes are expected at Motegi. Hendrik Jaya Soewatdy will substitute for Eric Zang at TORO Racing. Xu Zhefeng replaces Li Zhicong in the #610 610 Racing entry, while Wu Jiaxin steps in for Wang Zhongwei at Origine Motorsport.
First Visit to Motegi
While Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has visited Japan since 2014—racing at both Suzuka and Fuji Speedway—this marks its first appearance at Mobility Resort Motegi. The track presents a unique challenge: long, looping corners, elevation changes, and two tunnels. With heavy braking zones at Turns 1 and 11, overtaking opportunities are likely, though familiarity with the circuit will be limited for most of the field.
One exception is 19-year-old Enzo Trulli, who raced at Motegi in Super Formula Lights in 2023 and recorded two top-six finishes. That experience could prove valuable as the series navigates uncharted territory.
Schedule and Atmosphere
The event runs alongside Japan’s premier single-seater series, Super Formula, which is expected to draw a large and passionate fan base. The schedule includes practice on Friday (18 April), qualifying on Saturday morning, and two races: the first at 12:45 local time on Saturday, followed by Race 2 at 10:30 on Sunday (20 April).
Both races will be livestreamed on the official Porsche Carrera Cup Asia website and YouTube channel.
Voices from the Paddock
Enzo Trulli (TORO Racing):
“Shanghai was a great first outing, taking pole and a win. Every session is a chance to learn, and I know how competitive this season is. I’ve driven at Motegi before, which should help, but the focus is on continuing to push and fine-tune the car.”
Li Xuanyu (Z.SPEED Motorsport):
“I’m happy with the Shanghai podiums but qualifying remains an area for improvement. Motegi’s a new challenge, so Friday practice will be key to finding the right setup.”
Eric Kwong (Bergwerk Motorsport):
“Despite a couple of mistakes in qualifying, I still managed a podium in Shanghai. Motegi is new to many of us, and I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Christian Chia (OpenRoad Racing):
“The Masters class is a great platform to compete with fellow experienced racers. The drive to race is still strong, and I’m hoping to build on a solid start to the year.”
Alexandre Imperatori (Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Manager):
“After a thrilling season opener, we’re excited to bring the series to Motegi for the first time. It’s a technical track that will test the field—especially without ABS in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. With Super Formula joining us, the event should deliver fantastic racing. We also wish Brock a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in Sepang.”
