Ye: Origine in “Good Position” for Title Defense

Leo Ye Hongli believes his Origine Motorsport team is in a “good position” to successfully defend its GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS title this season amid a close battle between the Porsche outfit and the Johor Motorsports Racing Corvette squad.

Following victory in the first race of the fourth round of the season at Fuji Speedway earlier this month aboard the No. 87 Porsche 911 GT3 R, Ye and his teammate Yuan Bo lead the standings by seven points from JMR Corvette driver Prince Jefri Ibrahim.

The win at Fuji was the third of the season for Chinese pair Ye and Yuan, who enjoyed similar success in the opening two rounds of the season at Sepang and Mandalika.

However, with wins in the second races of the Sepang, Buriram and Fuji rounds, Prince Jefri, who has variously driven alongside Alexander Sims and Ben Green this year, the Malaysian driver trails by just seven points with two rounds to go.

Reflecting on the year so far, Macau GT Cup winner and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Ye credited the strong pace of Yuan for the No. 87 crew’s three wins, which have all come on Saturday races when the amateur drivers take the start.

“This year has been very successful and smooth,” Ye told Sportscar365. “Apart from Thailand, we always won in the first race, which is basically because my teammate ‘Bob’ [Yuan] is really fast and is always able to give me the car at the front.

“For me, it’s my third year in this car, and I am getting quite familiar with it. I am always able to do a good qualifying lap, and the race pace is consistent.

“Because GTWC Asia is only six rounds per a year, the seat time is not enough compared to the European championship, and with the rounds spaced apart by more than a month in the second half of the year, it takes me a bit of time to get back up to speed.

“But I am confident because ‘Bob’ is always giving me the car at the front, so I think we are in a good position for the championship.”

With three wins to their name, Ye and Yuan have already won more races this year than they did on the way to the title in 2024, when they picked up two victories.

However, Ye feels the level of the competition has become stronger than last season, particularly with the Am drivers becoming closer on pace to their Pro counterparts.

“Our opponents have improved a lot since last year, and especially the [No. 99] Corvette with Prince Jefri is really fast,” said Ye.

“But ‘Bob’ and [Lu] Wei from our team, and Anthony Liu [of Phantom Global Racing], are also improving and they are a lot closer to the pro drivers on pace than last year.

“The most important thing is for ‘Bob’ to stay in front of Prince Jefri, because Ben Green and Alexander Sims are both super-fast. I think on race pace I can’t catch them.”

Ye also feels that the technical layout of Okayama, which hosts the penultimate round of the season next month, will be more favorable to the Porsche 911 GT3 R than the season finale, which will take place at the new Beijing street circuit in October.

He feels his home event could prove more favorable towards the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, making a strong weekend at Okayama even more critical.

“The Corvette is also very fast in acceleration and a straight line, but at Okayama, I think the Porsche could have an advantage,” Ye said. “So I think Okayama will be crucial.

“Beijing seems to be mostly straight lines, so it could be good for the Corvette.

“Hopefully, if we can have a successful weekend in Okayama, we can come to Beijing leading the championship and then we will be able to take a few more risks.”