Chiming in from China | This Week in Motorsports

China was the hotspot for motorsport last weekend with F1 Sprint, F1 Academy, and the Porsche Carrera Cup all kicking off at the Shanghai International Circuit. Some 11,000-odd kilometers away, the future of Asian motorsports were battling it out in a massive 170+ kart grid in the IAME Euro Series. Read on to get all the updates!

Chaos in Kenya: Taka’s Heartbreak & India’s Rallying Breakthrough

Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta battled through illness, six punctures, and treacherous conditions to fight for a strong fourth-place finish. The Japanese driver even had a shot at the podium before a final puncture on Stage 16 derailed his charge.

Determined to salvage crucial Super Sunday points, Katsuta pushed hard on the Power Stage. However, a dramatic roll early in the 10.53km Hells Gate stage left his GR Yaris on its roof. He and co-driver Aaron Johnston managed to get the car moving again, but as they neared the final time control, the car lost power and stopped. Katsuta ultimately failed to reach the time control, resulting in a heartbreaking retirement.

India’s Naveen Pulligilla and co-driver Musa Sharif made history as the first all-Indian team in WRC, competing in the WRC3 category with a Ford Fiesta Rally3. The duo was on track for a landmark victory in their category, and running 20th overall until SS19.

However, just as victory seemed within reach, mechanical issues forced them to retire before the finish, dashing hopes of a fairytale win. 

Ajith Kumar Finishes 12H of Mugello on the Podium; Jiatong Finishes P6 in Class

Ajith Kumar Racing competed in the 992 AM class at the Mugello Circuit, Italy, driving a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Ajith Kumar, with teammates Mathieu Detry, Fabian Duffieux, and Cameron McLeod. They finished P3 in the 12-hour endurance race.

On Saturday, the team started strong under cool, dry conditions. Ajith drove a key stint of 1 hour and 41 minutes, posting a best lap of 1:52.3. Detry led with a 1:49.8, while Duffieux and McLeod clocked 1:50.1 and 1:50.6, respectively, keeping them competitive. Sunday’s 7-hour run saw consistent pace and smart strategy. They crossed the line in P3, earning a podium.

Alex Jiatong Liang raced with ARC Bratislava in the GT3-AM class at the Mugello Circuit, Italy, driving a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO. Alongside teammates Miro Konopka, Zdeno Mikulasko, and Gerhard Tweraser, Liang competed in the Michelin 12H Mugello, part of the 24H Series.

Liang drove a solid stint on Saturday, posting a best lap of 1:51.7. Konopka led with a 1:50.9, Mikulasko hit 1:51.2, and Tweraser managed 1:52.0, keeping ARC Bratislava in contention. The team held a mid-pack position after the first segment, avoiding trouble on the demanding circuit.

Sunday’s longer run saw steady driving. Liang’s consistency shone, though his lap times trailed Konopka’s slightly, reflecting his semi-pro status against the amateurs. The Lamborghini ran reliably to secure 6th in GT3-AM.

Porsche Carrera Cup Kicks Off 2025 season in Shanghai

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia launched its 2025 season at Shanghai, supporting the Chinese Grand Prix with a 24-car grid. In Saturday’s Round 1, TORO Racing’s Enzo Trulli won from pole, surviving a chaotic race ended by a red flag after a multi-car crash involving Pro-Am leader Bao Jinlong and Li Chao. Team Porsche New Zealand’s Brock Gilchrist took second, while Malaysia’s Amer Harris Jefry (Z.SPEED Motorsport) secured third. China’s Wang Zhongwei of Origine Motorsport clinched Pro-Am victory, beating Francis Tjia and Li Xuanyu, marking a strong debut for the team. Thailand’s Munkong Sathienthirakul (EBM) won the Am class.

Sunday’s Round 2 saw Team Shanghai Yongda BWT’s Dylan Pereira win from pole (2:06.3), ahead of Team Jebsen’s Rodrigo Dias Almeida and Gilchrist. Hong Kong’s Bao Jinlong (Phantom Global Racing) recovered from 21st to second in Pro-Am, behind TORO Racing’s Eric Zang, with Li Xuanyu third. Sathienthirakul doubled up in Am, finishing sixth overall, ahead of Eric Kwong and Yan Chuang. Origine Motorsport’s Wang Zhongwei added to their weekend haul with a consistent Pro-Am run. 

Nurburgring

Tough Start for Asian Drivers as NLS Season Kicks Off at Nürburgring

The Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) season kicked off last weekend with the four-hour race at the Nürburgring. The iconic endurance racing series saw the return of Indian drivers Arjun Maini and Akshay Gupta, alongside Japanese racer Miki Koyama.

Among the three, Arjun Maini had the strongest qualifying performance, securing 17th place overall and 13th in the SP9 PRO class. Miki Koyama qualified 61st, while Akshay Gupta, competing in VT2-F+4WD, placed 75th overall.

However, the race turned out to be a disappointing one for all three drivers and their teams. Nico Bastian suffered a serious crash at Pflanzgarten during qualifying in the #2 HRT Ford Mustang, preventing the team from taking part in the race and ruling out Maini’s participation in the season opener.

Toyota Gazoo Racing faced setbacks as both of their Supra GT4s were disqualified. Meanwhile, Akshay Gupta’s race started well but was cut short after a crash that took him out of contention for points.

It was a tough start to the NLS season for these Asian drivers, but they will be looking to bounce back in the upcoming rounds.

Shanghai International Circuit

Formula 1 & F1 Academy

Both McLarens have now won a race each, and Lewis Hamilton is finally a Ferrari race winner—albeit not yet a Grand Prix winner, as his hopes were dashed by a setup change and an eventual disqualification.

Meanwhile, in the feeder series F1 Academy, the action heats up as Alisha Palmowski and Doriane Pin each claim a victory, kicking off an exciting season.

Read all about the action across both series below!

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Cermona Circuit

IAME Euro Series Round 1

The IAME Euro Series organized by the RGMMC group kicked off in Cremona Circuit with a total grid of 185 drivers across the world. One of the most competitive karting championships in the gird, the IAME Euro Series is provides a global stage for karting talent to shine. Read more about the 7 drivers that represented Asia:

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