Absolute to Make U.S. Return With Porsche GT4 Entry

Photo: Absolute Racing

Absolute Racing will make its return to North American sports car racing competition with a confirmed two-race program including its debut in IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge later this year.

The Asia-based operation run by Ingo Matter and Fabien Fior has entered a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport in the Pilot Challenge round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for Anderson Tanoto and Lars Kern.

Additionally, the duo will also contest the Pirelli GT4 America season-opener at Sonoma Raceway in April.

It will mark Tanoto’s second Pilot Challenge start after the Indonesian driver teamed with Weiron Tan in an Automatic Racing-run Aston Martin Vantage GT4 last year, also at Laguna Seca.

This time, Tanoto will drive alongside Porsche development driver and Nürburgring specialist Lars Kern.

Ricki Martino, who was a key member of Absolute’s Bentley Continental GT3 Pirelli World Challenge program in 2016-17, will return as team manager, with longtime team engineer Axel Plankenhorn also rejoining the team.

“We’re delighted to confirm this additional program,” said Matter. “It’s great to be back in U.S. 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.”

The team is currently “examining options” for a North American base to service its new GT4 program, which would come in addition to its current premises in China (Zhuhai, Ningbo and Shanghai), Malaysia (Sepang), and Thailand (Bangkok).

“I’ve felt right at home [at Absolute] since the day I arrived,” said Tanoto. “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.”

Kern, meanwhile, will be making his driving debut at both of the famed Californian circuits.

“Jumping into this new adventure together with Anderson, Absolute Racing and Axel Plankenhorn as our engineer seems like a really good combination,” he said.

“The new GT4 RS Clubsport, our weapon of choice, demonstrated its capability at the first race in Daytona, so I believe we are ready to go.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John