Absolute Racing joins forces with HZO Fortis Racing to take on the second edition of the Shanghai 8 Hours, the most prominent endurance race in the People's Republic of China, taking place from October 5 to 6 at the Shanghai International Circuit.
HZO Fortis Racing by Absolute Racing will enter an Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II with an all-Malaysian driver lineup—the exact same crew that raced the 12 Hours of Sepang earlier this year—with brothers Hairie Oh and Haziq Oh, alongside their compatriot and driver coach Aaron Lim.
HZO Fortis Racing by Absolute has been a key player in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series this season, with the Oh brothers currently leading the Lamborghini Cup classification. The Malaysian trio is familiar with the Ingolstadt-made car, having raced it in the Sepang endurance race as well as the Sepang round of the TSS Thailand Super Series last month.
Having competed in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, Absolute Racing is returning to its roots, as the team’s first-ever race was the 1000 km of Zhuhai for the Intercontinental Le Mans Challenge in November 2010.
Commenting on the upcoming weekend, Ingo Matter, Absolute Racing Team Principal, said, “We are thrilled to welcome the HZO Fortis Racing crew aboard for the 8 Hours of Shanghai. They've shown great improvement this season in the Lamborghini Cup, and their experience from the Sepang 12 Hours will be invaluable in tackling this new challenge. We are excited to return to endurance racing at our home track.”
Hairie Oh and Haziq Oh got the chance to learn the “Home of Chinese Motorsport” earlier this year during the Chinese round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia at Shanghai. It was a challenging weekend but enough for the drivers to become passionate about one of the most impressive racing circuits in the world.
Hairie Oh said, “Just a month ago, my last race in Shanghai was cut short due to heavy rain. So, heading back this soon is fantastic. As for the track, it's fast and allows the driver to fully utilize the car’s full speed—definitely one of my favorite racing tracks.”
His brother, Haziq Oh, added, “This is my second endurance race this year, and this time driving an Audi R8 LMS GT3 on a newly resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit is amazing. It is definitely another challenge for me as a driver, both physically and mentally! Partnering with my favorite drivers, Hairie Oh and Aaron Lim, we will work hard to bring home a good result for the team.”
For Aaron Lim, one of the most reputed Malaysian drivers, this race marks a return to a track he hasn’t driven on for almost two decades. “It’s a pleasure to be back in the car with HZO Fortis Racing by Absolute Racing, this time at the 8 Hours of Shanghai in an Audi GT3,” said Lim. “The last time I raced at the Shanghai F1 Circuit was in 2005 or 2006 in Formula BMW, so it’s definitely been a long time. I can't wait to get back in the car and tackle this amazing circuit again. Thank you to the team for having me back, and I’m excited to learn the car and track again alongside Hairie and Haziq.”
The Shanghai 8 Hours officially kicks off on Saturday, October 5, with two free practice sessions in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon. The eight-hour race is scheduled to start at 09:30 (UTC+08:00).
