Hugo Ellis Shines in Tochigi as Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Delivers High-Octane Weekend

Following a spectacular season opener in Shanghai, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia shifted gears and headed to Japan’s Tochigi prefecture, joining forces with Super Formula for an adrenaline-fueled weekend. The picturesque Twin Ring Motegi played host to Rounds 3 and 4 of the championship, delivering drama, dominance, and double podiums across all classes.

Sime Motors Racing emerged as one of the standout teams of the weekend, thanks to British driver Hugo Ellis. Ellis made a bold statement by securing back-to-back second-place finishes, notching his first and second podiums of the season. His lightning start in Race 1, where he launched from third to lead into Turn 1, set the tone for a fierce battle at the front.

Although Ellis was eventually overtaken by Team Shanghai Yonda BWT’s Dylan Pereira—who claimed a comfortable victory—it was a defining moment for the British racer, proving his growing strength in the championship.

Phantom Global Racing’s Dylan Yip secured his maiden pole position in commanding fashion, showcasing his raw pace. Despite being edged out of the top spot in both races, Yip demonstrated resilience and skill by twice finishing third, holding off fierce competition from the likes of Enzo Trulli and Josh Rowledge.

Dylan Pereira, the 2022 Mobil 1 SuperCup champion, continued his dominant form by taking his third win of the season in Race 2. A late Safety Car bunched up the field, but Pereira executed a flawless restart to maintain his lead and extend his championship advantage.

In the Pro-Am category, Bao Jinlong initially took the Race 1 win for BWT Phantom Global Racing, but a 10-second penalty for a grid infringement handed victory to Li Xuanyu. Despite the setback, Bao bounced back fiercely in Race 2, sealing a class win with a commanding drive. Xuanyu’s consistency paid off again with another second-place finish, while Francis Tjia added to OpenRoad Racing’s tally with a podium.

The Am class featured one of the most thrilling duels of the weekend. Reigning champion Eric Kwong held off intense pressure from Thai sensation Munkong Sathienthirakul, only for the EBM driver to pull off a spectacular pass at Turn 3 after the Safety Car. Sathienthirakul’s victory cemented his status as a class leader, with Wu Jiaxin joining them on the podium.

The Masters category saw a spirited comeback from Porsche Own Retail 69 Team’s Jacky Wu, who claimed victory after two fourth-place finishes in Shanghai. Adrian D’Silva of EBM returned to the top step in Race 2, making it his third win of the year, while Christian Chia and John Shen rounded out the podiums with solid drives.

With the dust settling in Japan, all eyes now turn to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for Rounds 5 through 7, scheduled from June 6–8. The event will feature the much-anticipated return of the Endurance Cup—the first time it will be held in 2025—promising even more edge-of-the-seat action.