Absolute Racing is heading back to the United States of America in 2022. The Southeast Asia motorsport powerhouse will enter a brand new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and Pirelli GT4 America selected events with Anderson Tanoto and Lars Kern.

Having raced Audi GT4 cars in the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup for Absolute Racing before, Tanoto will do his first appearance in the Pirelli GT4 America series and get his second run in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. The Indonesian driver is a former GT4 Cup champion in the Audi R8 one-make cup series in Asia, and took part of last year’s IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Tanoto will line up alongside Porsche development driver and Nürburgring speacialist Lars Kern, as a Porsche test and development driver, the German has been responsible for the development of Porsche models such as the Boxster, Panamera, 911 GT3 and even the race-bred 911 RSR. With experience in rally, sports car and touring car racing, Kern will be doing his first appearance in both IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and Pirelli GT4 America.

The two events confirmed so far are the SRO America GT4 round at Sonoma (Apr 15 -17) and IMSA Pilot Challenge round at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Apr 29 - May 1).

Ricki Martino, who was a key member of the Absolute Racing squad throughout its Pirelli World Challenge campaigns in 2016 and 2017, is returning to the team as Team Manager. Former Team StarChase and longtime Absolute Racing engineer Axel Plankenhorn also rejoins the team.

Porsche has revealed the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport last year at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The most significant change is the 4.0 litre six-cylinder boxer engine. This high-revving powerplant has been taken directly from the 911 GT3 Cup race car and develops 500 PS. Improved aerodynamics and modifications to the chassis have also improved the speed and the handling of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport.

After a successful debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, Absolute Racing's 2021 programmes with Porsche GT customers in China will continue this season, as will the team's Southeast Asia operations and international expansion. In Europe, Absolute Racing will take part in the European Le Mans Series for the first time this season. In China, the team will rejoin China GT Championship, China Endurance Championship, GT Super Sprint Challenge and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. In Southeast Asia, the partnership with B-Quik Racing & Absolute Racing will return to the Thailand Super Series with further outings in the region still under consideration.

The team are currently examining options for a North American operating base to service the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge programme to add to current premises in China (Zhuhai, Ningbo and Shanghai), Malaysia (Sepang), and Thailand (Bangkok).

Ingo Matter (Team Director): “We’re delighted to confirm this additional programme, it’s great to be back in US and we couldn’t be happier to be doing it with Anderson and Lars and our people. We're back in full force, with Ricki in charge of the team and Axel engineering the car. Kiki, Elton, and Farouk, who have been a part of many of our race programs throughout the years, are returning as well. We hope that our participation will open the door to further opportunities in this region of the world.”

Ricki Martino (Team Manager): “I'm very much looking forward to working again with the whole Absolute Racing family. It feels nice to go back with a new program to the US and take care of some unfinished business. Porsche once again has produced a fantastic car and by the early results so far the new Cayman GT4 looks very competitive out of the box. With this combination of drivers in Anderson Tanoto and Lars Kern and the strong pedigree of Absolute Racing’s engineering department and technical team, I'm looking forward to the challenge and some hard racing over these two events.”

Anderson Tanoto (Driver): “I’m excited to be back at Absolute Racing, I’ve felt right at home since the day I arrived. It is very exciting to go racing in USA with the brand new Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport alongside Lars, Axel and Ricki. I believe we have a strong team and a good driver line up to be competitive in the sprint races.”

Lars Kern (Driver): “I've never been to Sonoma or Laguna Seca, but since I do races in the States I follow SRO America and Michelin Pilot Challenge closely. Those series deliver great sport and tight racing. Jumping into this new adventure together with Anderson, Absolute Racing and Axel Plankenhorn as our engineer seems like a really good combination. The new GT4RS Clubsport, our weapon of choice, demonstrated its capability at the first race in Daytona, so I believe we are ready to go."