2026 GT World Challenge Sepang Races: Porsche Claims Season-Opening Victory

The 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang season opener delivered immediate drama, strategy battles, and standout performances as teams returned to Malaysia for the first round of the campaign. With tight competition across classes and a pivotal Full Course Yellow shaking up the order, fans were treated to a race that set the tone for an exciting season ahead.

From Porsche’s strategic brilliance to historic achievements in the Silver class, Race 1 of the 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang proved why this championship continues to grow in global popularity.

Porsche capitalises on strategy and pace

The opening race of the 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang saw Huang Ruohan and Alessandro Ghiretti secure victory for Absolute Racing in their Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo. Starting from third, Huang kept the car within striking distance before handing over to Ghiretti, whose pace proved decisive in the second stint.

A Full Course Yellow period played a crucial role in shaping the race. It compressed the field and allowed Porsche to execute a perfectly timed pit strategy. Combined with the Silver class’s additional pitstop time requirement, this created the opportunity for Ghiretti to leapfrog the leading Lamborghini.

Despite these factors, the performance from both drivers was exceptional. Ghiretti, making his GT World Challenge Asia debut, showcased the composure and speed expected from a reigning Porsche Supercup champion, pulling away once he inherited the lead.

Silver class battle delivers history

Akash Nandy delivered one of the standout performances of the 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang by finishing second overall while competing solo. Driving the Lamborghini Huracan, Nandy not only secured maximum Silver class points but also made history as the first driver to win the class alone.

He crossed the line 6.8 seconds behind the winning Porsche, but his race was far from straightforward. After the pit cycle, Yu Kuai, sharing the FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom entry with Cheng Congfu, applied heavy pressure.

Despite the challenge, Nandy managed his tyres and pace effectively, maintaining position and securing a remarkable result. His performance highlighted both endurance and racecraft, setting a strong benchmark for the rest of the season.

Class winners and key highlights

The 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang Race 1 featured strong performances across all classes, with multiple teams celebrating victories and milestones.

• Overall winners: Huang Ruohan / Alessandro Ghiretti (Absolute Racing Porsche)
• Silver class: Akash Nandy (solo Lamborghini entry)
• Silver-Am class: Kiyoshi Uchiyama / Tsubasa Kondo (Porsche Center Okazaki)
• Am class: Wang Zhongwei / Liu Hangcheng (Origine Motorsport)
• Notable stat: Porsche’s 21st GT World Challenge Asia win, now level with Mercedes-AMG

Uchiyama and Kondo’s victory marked their first in Silver-Am after multiple seasons of effort, while Origine Motorsport secured the Am win despite serving a drive-through penalty earlier in the race.

Midfield battles and race incidents

Further down the order, the 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang featured intense midfield action, with several cars battling closely throughout the race. The Nissan entry from 5ZIGEN showed strong pace, finishing just behind the leading trio.

A key moment came when Winhere Harmony Racing’s Ferrari suffered a driveshaft failure just minutes before the pit window opened. This not only ended their race prematurely but also prevented the leading group from extending their gap.

There was also late-race contact between Lu Wei and Andrés Pato, resulting in a five-second penalty for the Origine Porsche. However, the penalty did not alter the final classification, as the gaps between cars remained stable.

Looking ahead to Race 2

With Race 1 complete, attention quickly turned to the second contest of the 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang, which took place just hours later. Teams aimed to build on their performances, refine strategies, and adapt to evolving track conditions at Sepang International Circuit.

The season opener has already demonstrated the competitive depth of the grid, with Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi, and Nissan all showing strong pace. As the championship unfolds, consistency and strategic execution will be key factors in determining the title contenders.

A thrilling start to the season

The 2026 GT World Challenge Sepang has kicked off with a race full of strategy, standout performances, and historic milestones. Porsche’s victory, Nandy’s solo Silver class triumph, and multiple class battles have already made this round memorable.

If these races are anything to go by, fans can expect even more excitement as the season progresses across Asia’s most iconic circuits.