The 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season kicked off with a bang at the Shanghai International Circuit, sharing the stage with the electrifying F1 Chinese Grand Prix. With two action-packed races lighting up the track, the season opener delivered high drama, fierce battles, and edge-of-the-seat racing that left fans breathless.
Race 1: Debut Delight and a Chaotic Finish
Saturday’s opener saw young gun Enzo Trulli make a dream start to his Carrera Cup Asia career, snatching pole position in his first-ever qualifying session for TORO Racing. The Italian looked cool as ice off the line, holding firm in P1 as Team Shanghai Yonda BWT’s Dylan Pereira found himself in trouble early, running wide and dropping crucial positions.
The action only escalated from there. A dramatic clash at turn 15 saw Sime Motors Racing’s Hugo Ellis and Team Jebsen’s Rodrigo Dias Almeida tangle, earning Ellis a penalty. Meanwhile, Pereira, hungry for redemption, launched a daring move for the lead, sending Trulli off track. As the shaken-up #99 car rejoined the pack, chaos ensued.
A late-race incident turned the drama up to 11. Trulli’s misfortune continued as he was tagged by Team WeTrade x PGR’s Josh Rowledge on Lap 12, setting off a chain reaction. Pro-Am leader Bao Jinlong (Phantom Global Racing) clipped Trulli’s car, then collected Li Chao’s Team Betterlife machine, triggering a red flag that ended the race prematurely.
After the dust settled and penalties were handed out, it was Trulli who emerged victorious, claiming an unforgettable debut win. Brock Gilchrist (Team Porsche New Zealand) secured P2, while Z.SPEED Motorsport’s Amer Harris Jefry grabbed the final podium spot.
In the Pro-Am class, Wang Zhongwei (Origine Motorsport) took the top honours, joined on the podium by Francis Tjia (OpenRoad Racing) and Li Xuanyu (Z.SPEED Motorsport). Over in the Am category, Munkong Sathienthirakul (EBM) made a statement with a dominant class win, while Adrian D’Silva bagged a historic first Masters victory for EBM.
Race 2: Pereira Strikes Back
Sunday’s showdown had fewer fireworks but no shortage of pure racing adrenaline. Pereira, determined to make amends, launched from pole and never looked back. Meanwhile, Trulli’s hopes of a double win were dashed early due to a technical issue, bringing out an early Safety Car.
When racing resumed, Pereira turned on the afterburners, leaving the chasing pack to scrap it out. The battle for P2 was fierce, with Gilchrist, Dias Almeida, and Ellis duking it out. On the final lap, Dias Almeida pulled off a sensational move at turn 15, snatching second place from Gilchrist as Pereira cruised to his sixth Carrera Cup Asia win.
In Pro-Am, a charging Bao stormed from 21st on the grid to snatch second place, but it was TORO Racing’s Eric Zang who claimed victory. Sathienthirakul sealed his weekend dominance with another Am class triumph, while D’Silva doubled up in Masters, edging out John Shen (Modena Motorsports) and Christian Chia (OpenRoad Racing).
Next Stop: Mobility Resort Motegi!
The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia circus rolls on to fresh asphalt at Mobility Resort Motegi from 18-20 April. Stay locked in on Porsche Malaysia’s social channels for all the latest updates – because if Shanghai was anything to go by, this season is going to be an absolute belter!
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