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Antares Au

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Antares Au
區天駿
Antares Au at Asian Le Mans 2024–2025
NationalityHong Kong Hong Kong
Born (1979-03-24) 24 March 1979 (age 46)
British Hong Kong
Asian Le Mans Series career
Current teamManthey Racing
Racing licence FIA Bronze
Best finish1st in 2024–25
Championship titles
2024–25
2024
Asian Le Mans Series – GT Intercontinental GT Challenge – Independent Cup

Antares Au (Chinese: 區天駿; born 24 March 1979[1]) is a Hong Kong racing driver. He is the 2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series GT champion and the 2024 Intercontinental GT Challenge Independent Cup champion.[2][3]

Business career

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Au is a graduate of Columbia University and a financial investor by training. He is a founding member of Ares SSG Capital Management, a pan-Asian private credit investor and subsidiary of Los-Angeles based alternative asset manager Ares Management, and headed its investment activities in Greater China since its establishment in 2009.[4][5] He retired from finance in 2023 to pursue endurance racing.[6]

Racing career

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Porsche Carrera Cup beginnings

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Au began his racing career by competing Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2017.[7] His debut in GT3 competition came in 2019, when he finished fourth in-class at the Dubai 24 Hours with Hong Kong drivers Frank Yu, Jonathan Hui and Kevin Tse.[8]

Early GT3 success (2021–2022)

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Au's first successes in GT3 started in 2021, when he won the inaugural 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi with co-driver Chris Froggatt.[9] Au also made his full-season debut in the GT class of Asian Le Mans, racing for Herberth Motorsport alongside Porsche factory driver Klaus Bachler.[10] He would continue to race for Herberth that same year at the 24 Hours of Spa with co-drivers Robert Renauer and Alfred Renauer.[11]

In 2022, Au returned to Asian Le Mans and Herberth Motorsport, teaming up with Bachler for the second year running and with the addition of Ye Yifei.[12][13] The trio finished second in the season finale at Yas Marina Circuit.[14][15] Au also returned to the 24 Hours of Spa, joining Jaxon Evans, Dylan Pereira and Kevin Tse at Herberth Motorsport.[16]

Notable wins in major endurance races (2023–present)

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Au began to achieve more prominent results in 2023, when he won the Spa round of the International GT Open championship co-driving with Matteo Cairoli in Pro-Am class.[17] Au returned to the top step of the podium at the 2023 24 Hours of Spa, when he started from overall pole position and won the Bronze class with Cairoli, Tim Heinemann and Jannes Fittje, becoming the first driver from Hong Kong to win this historic race.[18][19][20] Later the same year, Au debuted at the 2023 Indianapolis 8 Hours with Porsche factory driver Laurin Heinrich and Alfred Renauer from pole position and finished second in Pro-Am classs.[21][22] In the last race of 2023, he finished third in-class at the Gulf 12 Hours with Cairoli and Heinemann.[23]

In 2024, Au debuted at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with Lionspeed GP,[24] winning the SP9 Pro-Am class with Porsche factory driver Patric Niederhauser, Indy Dontje and Patrick Kolb, becoming the first driver from Hong Kong to win the GT category at Nurburgring 24H.[25][26][27] Later in the Intercontinental GT Challenge series, Au returned to the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Niederhauser and Loek Hartog, starting again from overall pole position and winning the Pro-Am class, securing the IGTC Independent Cup Championship title for 2024.[28][29]

In December, Au returned to the Asian Le Mans Series, joining Manthey Racing alongside Joel Sturm and Klaus Bachler. In the first round at Sepang, the trio retired in race one but rebounded in race two to take their first podium by finishing P2.[30] In early 2025, the team ran into troubles in the Dubai double-header, but saw their fortunes turn around at Yas Marina, scoring second in race one and winning the final race, thus crowning Au and his co-drivers 2024–2025 season champions and earning them an invite to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.[31][32]

Au also finished second in-class at the 2025 24 Hours of Dubai with Hong Kong drivers Jonathan Hui, Kevin Tse and Frank Yu.[33][34][35]

Racing record

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Racing career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2017 24H Series – SP3-GT4 GDL Racing Team Asia 1 0 0 0 1 26 3rd
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Modena Motorsports 2 0 0 0 0 13 8th
2018 24H GT Series – GT4 BLACK FALCON Team TMD Friction[36] 1 0 0 0 1 26 3rd
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Modena Motorsports 16 0 0 0 0 43 16th
2019 Dubai 24 Hour – A6 Am Team Porsche Centre Hong Kong 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Pro-Am Earl Bamber Motorsport[37] 14 0 4 2 4 153 4th
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Am OpenRoad Racing 1 0 0 0 0 8 26th
2020 24H GT Series – GT3 Am Team Hong Kong Craft-Bamboo Racing[38] 1 0 0 0 0 18 7th
2021 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi – GT Car Collection Motorsport 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
Asian Le Mans Series – GT Precote Herberth Motorsport 4 0 1 0 0 4.5 15th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 1 0 0 0 0 0† NC†
Dubai 24 Hour – GT3 Am Herberth Motorsport[39] 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
2022 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Herberth Motorsport[40] 4 0 1 0 1 20 8th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 1 0 0 0 0 0† NC†
British GT Championship – GT4 Allied Racing by Herberth 1 0 0 0 0 0† NC†
2023 Gulf 12 Hours – Pro-Am Herberth Motorsport[41] 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd
Asian Le Mans Series – GT 4 0 0 0 0 4 16th
Intercontinental GT Challenge Herberth Motorsport
Huber Motorsport
2 0 1 0 0 18 19th
International GT Open Huber Motorsport 1 1 0 1 1 16 17th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 1 1 1 1 1 0† NC†
GT World Challenge America – Pro-Am Cup 1 0 1 0 1 0 NC†
GT World Challenge Asia – GT3 Am Modena Motorsports 2 2 0 0 2 0 NC†
2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Herberth Motorsport[42] 5 0 0 0 0 19 15th
2024 24 H Series – Middle East Trophy – GT3 Herberth Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 24 7th
24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP9 Pro-Am Lionspeed GP[43] 1 1 0 0 1 N/A 1st
Intercontinental GT Challenge – Independent Cup Huber Motorsport
Lionspeed GP
Lionspeed x Herberth
3 3 1 0 3 75 1st
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Lionspeed x Herberth 1 0 0 0 0 0† NC†
International GT Open 1 0 0 1 0 0 68th
24H Series – GT3 Am Car Collection Motorsport 1 0 0 0 1 32 16th
GT World Challenge America – Pro-Am Cup Herberth Motorsport 1 1 1 0 1 0† NC†
GT World Challenge Asia – Am Audi Sport Asia Team Absolute 2 0 0 0 2 30 12th
2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Manthey Racing[44] 6 1 0 0 3 86 1st
2025 Middle East Trophy – GT3 Herberth Motorsport 2 0 0 0 1 30 3rd
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Rutronik Racing
Source:[45][46]

† As Au was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2025 Germany Manthey Austria Klaus Bachler
Netherlands Loek Hartog
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) LMGT3 340 38th 6th

References

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  1. ^ "Antares Au". gt-world-challenge-europe.com.
  2. ^ O'Connell, RJ; Kilbey, Stephen (16 February 2025). "APR & Manthey Punch Tickets To Le Mans After Clinching Asian Le Mans Titles". dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  3. ^ "【賽車】杜拜24小時耐力賽意外頻生 港將區天駿名列組別第6". sportsroad.hk. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  4. ^ "U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Filing". sec.gov.
  5. ^ "Hong Kong racer Antares Au on why he risks it all in name of motorsport ahead of Asian Le Mans outing". scmp.com. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Au hopes to show Hong Kong can 'get things done' in motorsport". South China Morning Post. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  7. ^ "德國紐布靈24小時賽 區天駿成首位獲GT組冠軍的香港車手". fitz.hk. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  8. ^ "區天駿奪洲際 GT 賽美國站冠軍". car1.hk. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Car Collection Motorsport wins the first-ever Hankook 6H ABU DHABI". 24H Series. 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Why Hong Kong racer Au risks it all for Asian Le Mans". South China Morning Post. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  11. ^ "香港車手勇奪迪拜 24 小時賽組別亞軍". car1.hk. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Antares Au enters 2022 Asian Le Mans Series". 2nernation.com. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  13. ^ "Asian Le Mans Series – 37 cars to take part in 2022 season". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  14. ^ 體路 (23 February 2022). "【賽車】再戰亞洲利曼系列賽 區天駿閉幕戰得亞軍". 體路 Sportsroad. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  15. ^ "区天骏首夺亚洲利曼总冠军 6月战利曼24". bisai6.com. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  16. ^ "許建德與區天駿分途出擊 爭逐斯帕耐力賽". hk.on.cc. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Hong Kong's Antares Au wins at Spa GT Open race in preparation for 24-hour endurance classic". becauseracecar.my. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  18. ^ Standard, The. "Hong Kong driver Antares Au wins the Bronze Cup at the 24 Hours of Spa in Belgium". The Standard. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Antares Au hopes to show Hong Kong can 'actually get things done' in motorsport with 24 Hours of Spa class victory". South China Morning Post.
  20. ^ "區天駿成首位勝出Spa 24小時賽的香港車手". lightsout.cc. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  21. ^ "區天駿奪洲際GT賽美國站冠軍". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 13 October 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  22. ^ O’Connell, R. J. (8 October 2023). "Indy 8H: BMW Team WRT Wins At Indianapolis". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  23. ^ "賽車|區天駿克服阿聯酋賽道重重困難 2023賽季攞獎作結". singtao.ca. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  24. ^ Euwema, Davey (12 April 2024). "Au, Niederhauser, Dontje Join Lionspeed for N24 – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  25. ^ "賽車|區天駿奪德國紐布靈24小時賽GT組冠軍 – 香港精英運動員協會" (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 9 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  26. ^ Fitz運動資訊 (7 June 2024). "德國紐布靈24小時賽 | 區天駿成首位獲GT組冠軍的香港車手". Fitz 運動平台 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  27. ^ "Porsche customer team Manthey EMA secures second in disrupted Nürburgring 24 Hours". Porsche Motorsport Hub. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  28. ^ "賽車|區天駿美國站耐力賽首名衝線 鎖定今季洲際GT賽獨立盃總冠軍". news.mingpao.com. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  29. ^ O’Connell, R. J. (6 October 2024). "Team WRT Goes Back-To-Back After Tense Indy 8 Hour Finish". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  30. ^ "賽車|區天駿亞洲利曼賽大馬揭幕戰奪亞". hk.sports.yahoo.com. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  31. ^ "APR & Manthey Punch Tickets To Le Mans After Clinching Asian Le Mans Titles". dailysportscar.com.
  32. ^ "賽車|區天駿首奪亞洲利曼系列賽總冠軍". 體路 Sportsroad.
  33. ^ "4位香港車手再「合體」 挑戰杜拜耐力賽決心爭冠". hk.on.cc. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  34. ^ "香港4子 勇奪迪拜24小時耐力賽組別亞軍". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 16 January 2025. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  35. ^ 有線新聞 (17 January 2025). "香港車手奪得迪拜24小時耐力賽組別亞軍". 有線寬頻 i-CABLE (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  36. ^ "【杜拜24小時耐力賽】港車隊奪冠變亞軍 港歷來最強陣容齊站頒獎台". sportsroad.hk. 14 January 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  37. ^ "【专题】这,不是富豪的游戏,而是天才的发掘地!". sohu.com. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  38. ^ "Team Hong Kong Craft-Bamboo Racing 確定參戰2020杜拜24小時耐力賽". sportsimageplus.com. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  39. ^ "【賽車】港將區天駿再戰杜拜24小時耐力賽劍指組別冠軍". hkelite.org. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  40. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (25 January 2022). "Porsche Selected Driver Ye Among Herberth Crew". sportscar365.com. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  41. ^ Goodwin, Graham (17 January 2023). "Herberth Motorsport Confirm Asian Le Mans Series Crew". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  42. ^ Plümer, Jonas (10 November 2023). "Tim Heinemann goes to Asia". GT-Place.com (in German). Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  43. ^ Euwema, Davey (12 April 2024). "Au, Niederhauser, Dontje Join Lionspeed for N24". sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  44. ^ Euwema, Davey (18 November 2024). "Au, Hardwick in Manthey GT3 Lineup". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  45. ^ "Antares Au Results". Motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  46. ^ "Antares Au | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
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