Jesse Krohn will return to the 2026 GT World Challenge (GTWC) Asia powered by AWS competition this weekend, as he joins Team KRC BMW for the Mandalika round in Indonesia. Organisers confirmed the Finnish driver as part of a 22-car entry list published on Monday, marking his first appearance in the series since 2023.
Krohn will partner Ruan Cunfan in the No. 89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Consequently, he replaces factory BMW driver Neil Verhagen, who cannot attend due to a scheduling clash.
Driver swap triggered by calendar clash
Verhagen will instead compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Laguna Seca, where he drives for Paul Miller Racing. As a result, Team KRC BMW turned to Krohn, who brings prior GTWC Asia experience despite no longer holding factory status with BMW.
Although Krohn left BMW’s factory driver roster at the end of last year, he has remained active in top-level GT racing. Notably, he has raced Mercedes-AMG machinery with the KCMG team in the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie this season. Therefore, his return adds both experience and versatility to the Mandalika grid.
Slightly reduced GTWC Asia grid for Mandalika
Compared to the opening round at Sepang earlier this month, the Mandalika field features one fewer car. The No. 98 Absolute Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 will not compete this weekend. Meanwhile, Sean Gelael enters a one-off appearance in a Garage 75 Ferrari, effectively replacing the team’s regular No. 75 entry driven by Christian Colombo and David Tjiptobiantoro.
At the same time, the GTWC Europe Sprint Cup round at Brands Hatch has forced further driver reshuffles. Porsche drivers Dorian Boccolacci and Bastian Buus will both miss the Mandalika event due to overlapping commitments.
In response, teams have secured capable stand-ins. Loek Hartog will replace Boccolacci at Phantom Global Racing, while Klaus Bachler will step in for Buus in Absolute Racing’s No. 918 Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo. These changes ensure competitive continuity despite the scheduling conflicts.
Furthermore, a clash with the SUPER GT event at Fuji Speedway means Kazuto Kotaka and Atsushi Miyake will also sit out the Mandalika round. Their respective teams, Porsche Centre Okazaki and 5ZIGEN, had already announced replacements ahead of the weekend.
Yuichi Nakayama will take over driving duties in the No. 18 Porsche, while Kimiya Sato will pilot the No. 500 Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3. Consequently, the grid will feature a mix of regular drivers and substitutes, adding an unpredictable element to the race.
A dynamic weekend ahead
Overall, the Mandalika round promises a dynamic and competitive field shaped by multiple driver changes. With Krohn’s return and several high-profile absences, teams must adapt quickly. As a result, fans can expect an intriguing contest as drivers seize new opportunities and aim to make their mark in Indonesia.
