Absolute Racing will join GT World Challenge Asia’s GT4 class full-time this season with a 2020-spec Audi R8 LMS GT4.
The reigning GT3 Teams’ and Pro/Am Drivers’ champions are best known for running Audis and Porsches in the senior class, but also made a one-off GT4 appearance last season at Suzuka. They will now campaign the R8 at all six rounds with Anderson Tanoto and Nicolaj Møller Madsen, who join the championship’s new Silver/Am class.
Indonesian amateur Tanoto was also part of Absolute’s exploratory GT4 foray in June, which yielded a pair of class podiums, and has also raced the car in Audi’s one-make R8 LMS Cup.
“It is a whole new challenge for me,” said Tanoto. “Last year’s experience in GT World Challenge Asia’s Suzuka rounds, where we finished with a double podium, was an eye-opener. It is a privilege to return with a new Audi R8 LMS GT4 this year alongside Absolute Racing. I am excited to team-up with an experienced GT4 driver like Møller Madsen. This is a huge step up and it will help my development as a driver. I know the team’s expectations are high, but I feel ready for the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced in motor racing.”
Tanoto’s Danish co-driver Møller Madsen makes his GT World Challenge Asia debut following several years as a GT4 European Series front-runner. He won 2018’s Silver Cup drivers’ championship aboard an Audi and used the same car to finish sixth last season.
“I am really happy and proud to join Absolute Racing for the GT World Challenge Asia in the GT4 class,” said Nicolaj Møller Madsen. “I think all race drivers have been looking to get a chance to race in Asia, mainly because of the amazing racing tracks and even more amazing fans. In the past three years I have been trying to find a way to get into Asia, and now it finally happened. Doing it with a team like Absolute Racing just makes it even more special. I am looking forward to taking my experience from the last two years with the Audi in Europe to Asia, and I think we will have the car to fight for the title. I am not going to fly six times for 15 hours each time to finish second, so for sure the goal is to win!”
Meanwhile, the Audi’s ‘evo’ upgrade features enhanced aerodynamics, a wider set-up window and styling cues carried over from the current R8 road car.
“I’m extremely pleased to be joining GT World Challenge Asia’s GT4 class,” said team director Ingo Matter. “Running the Audi R8 LMS GT4 was an obvious choice; we have a great relationship with Audi Sport customer racing Asia. In Nicolaj and Anderson we have two highly committed drivers. Absolute Racing will definitely be looking for class wins. This expansion marks a new chapter for the team and we can’t wait to get started.”
Sepang hosts the opening round of GT World Challenge Asia’s 11-race campaign on March 28/29.
Source. SRO Motorsports Group
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