Sepang 12H Entry List Released

The entry list for the Motul Sepang 12 Hours was announced in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, with 13 GT3 cars set to take part in the closing round of the inaugural Intercontinental GT Challenge season.

Founder and CEO of the SRO Motorsports Group, Stephane Ratel, and chairman of the Sepang International Circuit, Tan Sri Azman Yahya, were present at the press conference in the Malaysian capital.

In the largest class, GT3 teams will be fighting for overall honors, with several works-supported teams taking part.

ENTRY LIST: Sepang 12H

“We are happy to see the popularity of GT3 racing in the Asia-Pacific region,” Ratel said. “We would like to welcome back the teams that showed faith in us last year and are looking forward to see them competing again in the final round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.

“I am convinced that the Motul Sepang 12 Hours will again be a grueling race, with some extreme weather conditions, and it will be a fitting finale of the inaugural season of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.”

On its debut in the race, Porsche will field an all-factory lineup in a pair of Porsche 911 GT3 Rs run by Manthey Racing.

Nick Tandy, Earl Bamber and Patrick Pilet will pilot the No. 911 car, while Fred Makowiecki, Richard Lietz and Michael Christensen will take to the No. 912 Porsche.

Meanwhile, Audi Sport Team Phoenix will enter a pair of Audi R8 LMSs with Christopher Haase, Robin Frijns and Laurens Vanthoor driving the No. 15 car, and Pierre Kaffer, Rene Rast and Markus Winkelhock in the No. 16 entry.

As announced last month, Pirelli World Challenge champions K-PAX Racing will enter Alvaro Parente’s title-winning McLaren 650S GT3 in the race. The Flying Lizard-run squad has yet to announce its exact lineup, which is expected to consist of three McLaren GT factory drivers.

The Audi and McLaren teams will contest for the Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturers’ title, with the two marques third and fourth in the standings.

Bentley leads the points but has no cars entered in this race, despite expectations that Absolute Racing would race on behalf of the British manufacturer.

Mercedes-Benz, currently second in the championship, has no Pro entries at Sepang, but rather a single Pro-Am Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 run by Japanese outfit SAITAMA TOYOPET Green Brave, with Taku Bamba, Takayuki Hiranuma, Naoki Hattori and Shogo Mitsuyama as drivers.

Meanwhile, Laurens Vanthoor leads the way in the drivers’ points standings, with 33 points to second-placed Shane van Gisbergen’s 27.

The Kiwi is not on the current entry list but is likely to join the K-PAX entry.

In addition, the remainder of the GT3 class is made up of Ferraris run by Singha Motorsports Team, Nexus Infinity, HubAuto Racing, Spirit of Race and T2 Motorsport, a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for J-Loc, and a Toyota Prius run by APR.

With the other GT and touring car classes included, a total number of 13 manufacturers are represented in the 26-strong entry list.

For the first time in the race’s history, GT4 cars will take to the Sepang circuit. Simpson Motorsport and Ayelzo Ecotint Racing will campaign Ginetta G55 GT4s, while Muta Racing will enter a Lexus RC350.

The four-strong GTC class features a pair of Porsche 911 GT3 Cups, a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo, and B-Quik Racing’s Audi R8 LMS Cup with a lineup that includes recently-announced Acura factory driver Peter Kox.

The race will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, and will be broadcast live on Motors TV throughout Europe, with part coverage and highlights programs in other territories. There will also be a live-stream available.