Team KRC is considering a full Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) campaign in 2027 as the Taiwanese BMW squad continues expanding its international racing programme.
The team has already contested two IGTC events this season, making its championship debut at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour before expanding to two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs for the Suzuka 1000km. Team director Mars Kang has now revealed that the squad hopes to build on those outings with a full programme next year, potentially allowing regular Bronze-rated driver Tony Ruan Cunfan to challenge for Independent Cup honours.
Before those plans progress, KRC will return to Macau in November with Augusto Farfus. The BMW factory driver will contest the 2026 FIA GT World Cup at the Guia Circuit, having previously represented the team there in 2024.
Macau return comes before possible Bathurst move
KRC skipped last year’s FIA GT World Cup after deciding it lacked sufficient experience with the torque sensor technology used at the event. Kang believes the team now has the necessary preparation to return, with Farfus again set to drive its BMW around one of GT racing’s most demanding street circuits.
“Macau is in our plan. Last year we skipped it because we didn’t have any experience of torque sensors and we didn’t have a chance of test them. But this year we are going back with Augusto again.
“After Macau, if we can keep the car in good condition, we will ship the car directly to Bathurst. At least we will have one car there for Bronze or Pro-Am.
“And then a full IGTC program is in our consideration. We still need more funding to attend all of these big events. But it is under discussions.”
The FIA GT World Cup takes place from 19–22 November and would provide an immediate logistical link into the beginning of the 2027 IGTC campaign should KRC proceed with its plans.
Bathurst already provided an encouraging starting point this year. Max Hesse, Maxime Oosten and Ruan brought the No. 89 BMW home fifth overall and second in the Bronze class on the team’s debut at Mount Panorama.
KRC then doubled its presence for September’s Suzuka 1000km. Its Bronze Cup entry retired, but the Pro-Am BMW that included Farfus reached the class podium, giving the team another encouraging result as it evaluated a larger IGTC commitment.
Spa experience prompts Independent Cup interest
A full-season programme would allow Ruan to pursue the IGTC Independent Cup, giving KRC an additional championship objective alongside individual race results.
Kang revealed that the idea developed after he, Ruan and several other members of the team competed in the 25 Hours of Spa Fun Cup earlier this year. The experience gave them a closer look at one of the circuits central to international GT racing and encouraged discussions about expanding KRC’s programme beyond Asia.
“Tony and a few of our drivers, including me, we entered the Spa 25 Fun Cup,” he said. “It impressed us a lot, it’s a nice circuit and a nice environment. So this is why we started thinking about the IGTC for next year and the Independent Cup.
“We have a very short time for the preparation and to raise the budget, and nothing is sure yet, but we are trying hard.”
Funding remains the main obstacle. KRC has steadily expanded its operation over the past two seasons, but a complete IGTC schedule would require significantly greater resources than its current selective programme.
BMW factory drivers help KRC’s development
KRC has already used its expanding relationship with BMW to accelerate that development. The team grew to a two-car GT World Challenge Asia programme for 2026, adding a Silver-Am BMW for Brian Lee and Oosten alongside Ruan’s Pro-Am entry.
Ruan has shared his car with several BMW-affiliated drivers across the season. Hesse joined him for Fuji, Neil Verhagen partnered him at Okayama and former BMW factory driver Jesse Krohn appeared at Mandalika. Ruan’s best results have included third-place finishes alongside Hesse at Fuji and Verhagen at Okayama.
Kang believes that rotating experienced professional drivers through the team has helped KRC improve its engineering, working practices and overall approach.
“We haven’t had just one driver all year, but having the M [factory] drivers who are used to tougher races as well as the European engineering support has been very good to allow us to grow up,” said Kang. “We are still learning and improving.
“I think the most important thing is the attitude of the team. I know some teams are quite conservative, or maybe there’s a language barrier, but we are very open and we try to absorb all the good things [from drivers and staff] to make a better team.”
That development has accompanied KRC’s increasing presence across major GT3 events. The team has moved from a single-car GT World Challenge Asia operation into a two-car programme while simultaneously adding Bathurst, Suzuka and now another Macau appearance.
Pro-class IGTC programme remains long-term ambition
Kang ultimately hopes KRC can deepen its relationship with BMW enough to field a full factory-supported Pro line-up at selected IGTC events.
BMW offered the team an opportunity to add a Pro-class car at Suzuka this year, but KRC decided its available budget could not support another entry. The manufacturer consequently arrived without a KRC-operated Pro car despite the team expanding its own presence to two entries.
For Kang, a programme featuring a complete line-up of BMW works drivers remains an ambition rather than an immediate commitment.
“I would be proud to work more closely together with BMW,” he said. “Actually, they asked me if I was interested in sending a Pro car to Suzuka as well. But we are not a big team like WRT, we always suffer budget issues, and we need more funding.
“Running a Pro car is my dream if it’s possible. We’ll try hard.”
KRC’s immediate focus remains its GT World Challenge Asia campaign before Farfus returns to the team for Macau. If the BMW emerges from the Guia Circuit weekend without major damage, the squad intends to send it directly towards another Bathurst appearance.
Beyond that, the scale of KRC’s 2027 programme will depend largely on securing the necessary funding. However, after making its Bathurst debut, expanding to two cars at Suzuka and confirming another FIA GT World Cup appearance, a full IGTC campaign represents the clearest next step in the Taiwanese team’s rapid growth.
