Absolute Racing's No. 22 Porsche 911 GT3 R, driven by Chinese drivers Min Heng and Liu Hangcheng and sharing the special "Bobshark" livery, recovered from a difficult qualifying to finish second in the AM+ class at the fourth round of the 2026 China GT Championship season at Shanghai International Circuit, securing another class trophy this season following the team's result at Ningbo.
"Bobshark" – a key member of the new IP universe ING's Family, jointly developed by Absolute Racing and ARbox – made its track debut at Shanghai as a special livery for the No. 22 car this weekend. The design turned heads with its distinctive visuals, but also carried a special meaning: harnessing the power of rebirth to start a new and joyful chapter in life.
Min Heng and Liu Hangcheng found their rhythm as the weekend progressed. Both drivers improved steadily through practice and qualifying, eventually breaking the 2:03 barrier to secure fifth in the AM+ class on the grid.
In Saturday afternoon's opening race, Min Heng showed strong attacking intent from the outset, engaging in a fierce battle with the car ahead as he searched for a way past. The race was later interrupted by an on-track incident, which disrupted the No. 22's momentum in chasing down the cars in front and challenging for a class podium. Min Heng and Liu Hangcheng ultimately finished fifth in the AM+ class.
Liu Hangcheng hit his stride immediately at the start of Sunday's race, gaining several places in quick succession. Amid close fighting with the cars behind, he was squeezed onto the dirty side of the track and lost grip, running off line. He regained control swiftly and, although he had lost ground, rebuilt his rhythm and closed back up on the cars ahead.
A full-course yellow mid-race changed the tempo once again, and the team seized the opportunity to complete the mandatory pit-stop and driver change, with Min Heng taking over for the final sprint.
After the restart, Min Heng pushed forward methodically, overtaking several cars and joining the fight for the AM+ top three in the closing stages. Following a tense battle, the No. 22 "Bobshark" returned to the podium in the AM+ class.
The Shanghai round also carried a special emotional thread for Absolute Racing. Saturday's serious on-track accident touched everyone connected with the team. Loek Hartog, who raced for Absolute Racing at the 2025 Suzuka 1000km, made the brave decision to get out of his car and assist the injured driver following the incident. In Sunday's races, Absolute Racing displayed Loek Hartog's name on both cars as a tribute to this new trackside hero.
The Shanghai weekend is over, but Absolute Racing's triple-header continues. Next stop is Suzuka, Japan, for another Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) showdown, as the team aims to deliver a strong performance in the 50th-anniversary edition of the Suzuka 1000km.
