Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific set to launch 2024 season with Porsche Sprint Challenge Indonesia Rounds 3-4
Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit is set to host a field of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) for Porsche Sprint Challenge Indonesia once again, following the series’ maiden race weekend in December.
The first event on the Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific 2024 calendar follows a successful debut for the marque’s latest one-make series, which saw Rizqy Motorsport take victory in both events. Rio Saputra Budiharjo became the inaugural race winner in the Sprint, while Daffa Ardiansyah Budiharjo and Dikco Prasetyo Wahyu Utom completed a perfect weekend for the squad with triumph in the Endurance Race.
Rizqy Motorsport looks to carry their strong form into the new year, but will face stiff competition from Jakarta Ban Motorsport’s Ahmad Fadillah Alam and Ahmad Aldio Oekon of Citadel Racing Team, who will be hungry for Sprint victory following their podium finishes in the previous round.
In the Endurance Race, Oekon will aim to keep up his run of podium finishes, while December’s Am winners Hendrik Jaya Soewatdy and John Kwon hope for another strong result at the wheel of the Semen Merah Putih Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992).
Meanwhile, fierce competition is expected in the Pro-Am and Am classes. Luckas Dwinada and Jakarta Ban Motorsport’s Alam and Setia Laksana took Pro-Am glory in the Sprint and Endurance events respectively in Rounds 1 and 2, while Ruffino was victorious in the Am class, ahead of Soewatdy and Kwon’s win on Sunday.
Measuring 4.313 kilometres, Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit first opened in 2021 and is situated on the coast of the picturesque tropical island of Lombok. The layout itself features plenty of quick turns, with swift changes of direction a key aspect. The braking zone through Turn 15 and into Turn 16 will challenge drivers, while the best overtaking opportunity is likely to be down the long pit straight towards Turn 1.
The event will take place on 12-14 January, with the Sprint Race on Saturday at 15:15 local time, before Sunday’s Endurance Race at 11:20. Both events will be available to watch live on the Porsche Sprint Challenge Indonesia YouTube channel, while Rounds 5 and 6 will follow later this month, on January 26-28.
Alexandre Gibot, Managing Director, Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific Limited: “All of us at Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific are excited to get the 2024 season underway with our customers returning to the track this weekend in Indonesia. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992) and our stellar field of some exhilaratingly close racing last round and I’m confident that they will continue to do so. I would like to wish good luck to all competitors going into Rounds 3 and 4 of the championship!”
Bagoes Hermanto, CEO Superstars Motorsport: “After an encouraging opening round, we are excited to see what the drivers can produce in the second race weekend of Porsche Sprint Challenge Indonesia. With lessons learned from the first two events, we expect teams to employ evolved strategies to maximise their results. We are eager to find out how our talented field of drivers will fare having gained some familiarity with the track