> Japanese duo racing in partnership with ANR
Vincenzo Sospiri Racing has added two further entries to its 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia Powered by AWS assault.
Lamborghini Squadra Corse driver and former Fanatec GT Asia class champion Marco Mapelli joins Mike Zhou Bihuang, while another Huracan GT3 EVO 2 will be run in collaboration with the Japanese team ANR. It was founded by Japanese influencers Nijiko - who established the fashion brand Shéller - and Ami.
ANR is believed to be one of the only female-owned motorsport teams operating on the world stage.
Spearheading its attack is Yuki Nemoto, a Lamborghini Young Professional Driver who has spent several recent seasons contesting Fanatec GT Europe with VSR. Former Super Trofeo regular and sometime Super GT driver Akira Mizutani completes the crew.
Mapelli, meanwhile, also has Japanese Lamborghini connections: he has represented JLOC in Super GT but also shared the 2018 Fanatec GT Asia Pro-Am class title with Hiroshi Hamaguchi when the pair raced for FFF. Now the Italian joins Zhou who claimed a podium in his maiden Asia campaign with Climax last season.
“I’m thrilled to be joining forces with Lamborghini factory pro driver, Marco Mapelli, and the esteemed team at VSR, backed by Lamborghini Squadra Corse,” he said. “Together, we're gearing up for an exciting season in Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia. I’m looking forward to getting on track and fighting for the Pro-Am championship.”
A third VSR entry comprising reigning Am champion Bian Ye and Edoardo Liberati was announced in late January.
VSR was a Fanatec GT Asia regular from the inaugural campaign in 2017 until 2019. During that time it won the Am class title and finished third in Pro-Am. It has since focused on Fanatec GT Europe, International GT Open and its domestic Italian GT Championship.
The first of six events takes place at Sepang on April 19-21. Rounds in Thailand, Japan and China then follow.