Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Kicks Off 2026 Season with 30-Car Grid at Zhuhai Test Days
The 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia campaign officially got underway last weekend as a record 30-car grid completed the Official Test Days at Zhuhai International Circuit in China.
The strong turnout marked the largest grid in the championship’s 23-year history, with drivers from 12 countries and regions preparing for a packed new season. The series will also make history in 2026 as the first one-make championship to race the new Porsche 911 Cup (992.2).
Season Proper Begins in Shanghai
With testing now complete, attention turns to the season opener at Shanghai International Circuit on 13–15 March, where the championship will once again support the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
Zhuhai returns to host championship rounds for the first time since 2021, while Fuji Speedway makes its comeback to the calendar for the first time since 2019. The Japanese round is scheduled for May.
The calendar continues with the beachside street race at Bangsaen in July, followed by an August triple-header at Sepang International Circuit. The season will conclude under the lights at Marina Bay Street Circuit on 9–11 October.
Pro Class: New Faces, Familiar Names
The Pro category sees Porsche Junior Marcus Amand return full-time after a strong guest appearance in 2025. The Franco-Finn joins Team Shanghai Yonda BWT in the #3 entry, replacing 2025 champion Dylan Pereira.
Marvin Klein, a two-time Porsche Carrera Cup France champion, makes his Asian series debut with Absolute Racing in the #88 Porsche 911 Cup (992.2), bringing experience from Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Ling Kang returns with Origine Motorsport, while the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Talent Pool Presented by Michelin fields a competitive mix of returning drivers and six debutants.
Among them is Malaysia’s Naquib Azlan, representing Team Porsche Malaysia after impressing during last November’s Talent Pool Assessment Test. The former sim racer continued that form during testing, setting the fastest time in his second session.
The Talent Pool also includes Amna Al Qubaisi, Ruiqi Liu, Alex Sawer, Seth Gilmore and 17-year-old Josh Berry.
Pro-Am: Title Contenders Line Up
Reigning Pro-Am champion Bao Jinlong returns in 2026 with Origine Motorsport, aiming to extend his remarkable six-title tally.
He will face stiff competition from 2022 champion Lu Wei, who also joins Origine Motorsport, alongside last year’s runner-up Francis Tjia and Wang Zhongwei.
Anderson Tanoto is set for a full campaign with Absolute Racing, although he missed the Official Test Days and was replaced by Montego Maassen and Dylan Estre.
Am Class: Sibling Rivalry Continues
2025 champion Henry Kwong returns with Bergwerk, once again lining up alongside his brother Eric Kwong after their dramatic four-point title decider in Singapore last season.
Yan Chuang continues with BWT x Phantom Global, while several strong guest drivers from 2025 step up to full-season campaigns, including Cao Qikuan, Roy Tang, Wu Jiaxin and Simon Chan.
Two newcomers, Ning Li and Liu Chao, join the Am grid for their debut season.
Masters Class: Title Defence Underway
The Masters class enters its second season after a tightly contested 2025 campaign. Malaysia’s Adrian D’Silva returns to defend his title for Earl Bamber Motorsport.
John Shen and Jacky Wu are back to challenge him, while Han Songting also participated in the Zhuhai Test Days.
Dealer Trophy Expands
Six dealer-backed entries will contest the 2026 Dealer Trophy. Team Shanghai Yonda BWT return as defending champions, joined by Team Porsche New Zealand, Team Jebsen and Porsche Own Retail 69 Team.
New for 2026 are Porsche Centre Adelaide and Team Porsche Malaysia, further strengthening regional representation.
Partners Continue Support
Michelin, Mobil 1, CTVS, DSV and Sacred continue as series partners for 2026, with Conspit joining as a new hospitality partner, providing simulator experiences during race weekends.
Looking Ahead
With 12 hours of track time completed across four test sessions and drivers gaining valuable mileage in the new Porsche 911 Cup (992.2), the stage is now set for the opening round in Shanghai.
A record grid, a new-generation race car, returning circuits and strong regional representation suggest the 2026 season could be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
CarTok Editor’s Note:
With a brand-new 992.2 platform, multiple returning champions across classes and a record 30-car grid, 2026 feels like a benchmark for Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.
