The 2024 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season concluded in spectacular fashion at the Shanghai International Circuit, with Alessandro Ghiretti capturing the championship title in his debut season. The weekend also saw the second edition of the Endurance Challenge, featuring three intense races, including the 43-minute Endurance Cup finale.
Despite challenging wet conditions that tested drivers throughout the event, Ghiretti’s skill and determination shone through. Team Shanghai Yongda BWT’s Dylan Pereira started strong by securing pole position for Round 14, but Ghiretti battled hard, eventually overtaking his championship rival, Mathys Jaubert, who slid down to ninth after struggling in the slippery conditions. Ghiretti took the lead, followed closely by Porsche Holding’s Martin Ragginger, who secured his fifth podium finish of the season.
In the Pro-Am category, TORO Racing’s Eric Zang mastered the treacherous track to earn his third win of the year, while Phantom Global Racing’s Bao Jinlong, the 2024 Pro-Am champion, recovered from an off-track incident to claim third place. In the Am category, Eric Kwong of Bergwerk Motorsport continued his dominance, edging out EBM’s Munkong Sathienthirakul to win the race.
Rain continued into Sunday morning for Round 15, with Ghiretti on pole. Despite heavy pressure from Pereira and a brief Safety Car appearance, Ghiretti held firm, securing his title with a flawless performance. Pereira and Brock Gilchrist completed the podium in second and third respectively. In the Pro-Am and Am categories, Bao and Jacky Wu both triumphed in their respective races, with Wu earning his first win of the season.
The season’s finale, the Endurance Cup, unfolded in cooler and drier conditions. A dramatic collision between Pereira and Jaubert allowed Ghiretti to slip into the lead, a position he maintained to claim his eighth win of the season. His victory secured him not only the overall championship but also the inaugural Endurance Challenge title, earning him a coveted entry to the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia event at Albert Park.
In Pro-Am, Bao’s strong performance earned him the Endurance Challenge title, while Li Xuanyu and Yang Ruoyu completed the podium. The Am class saw Henry Kwong win the race after a collision involving Eric Kwong and Zang, but Munkong Sathienthirakul’s third-place finish was enough to claim the Endurance Challenge crown, even as Eric Kwong took the overall Am class title.
The 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season promises even more excitement with new circuits in Mandalika and Mobility Resort Motegi, as well as the return of the Endurance Challenge. The season kicks off in Shanghai with test days on March 1-2, 2025, ahead of the first races on March 21-23.
Stay tuned to Porsche Malaysia’s social media for updates on the upcoming season.
