Porsche Center Okazaki back for 2022 in Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia

Hiroaki Nagai, Yuta Kamimura and Porsche Center Okazaki are the latest Japanese GT3 combination to confirm a Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS entry for the coming campaign.

The Nine Racing-run outfit, which was previously known as ARN Racing, contested a full season in 2019 with the same Porsche 911 GT3 R that now tackles this year’s four Japan Cup rounds at Suzuka, Fuji, Sugo and Okayama.

The Pro-Am pairing previously claimed a best result of third overall on home soil at Suzuka and have also scored two class wins and a pole position together. They’ve remained busy since then by contesting the domestic GT endurance series, Super Taikyu, from which more Japan Cup entries have already and are expected to emerge.

“Together with Nine Racing I’ve played a part in every Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS season to date and the new Japan Cup provides a great opportunity to do so again,” said Nagai who raced a Ferrari in 2017/18. “Yuta-san and I were really competitive with the Porsche in 2019 so it made perfect sense to return with the same combination and try to win the Japan Cup. We know first-hand how strong some of the other entries are but our previous experience of the championship should give us an early advantage.”

SRO Motorsports Group’s new Japan Cup concept, which awards points to Japanese Pro-Am and Am crews at two thirds of this year’s events, has also attracted the likes of BMW Team Studie, ABSSA, D’Station Racing and CarGuy Racing.

Yogibo Racing’s Silver crew are also contesting the full-season campaign, which begins at Sepang on May 20-22 before concluding following the four Japanese events at Mandalika in October.

2022 CALENDAR

May 20-22 // Sepang International Circuit // 2x 60min races
July 15-17 // Suzuka International Circuit // 2x 60min races (inc. Japan Cup)
July 22-24 // Fuji International Speedway // 2x 60min races (inc. Japan Cup)
August 19-21 // Sportsland Sugo // 2x 60min races (inc. Japan Cup)
September 23-25 // Okayama International Circuit // 2x 60min races (inc. Japan Cup)
October 21-23 // Mandalika International Circuit // 2x 60min races