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

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

Carrera Cup and Porsche beginnings

The first published record of Au's racing appears to be in 2017 when he competed in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.[7] His association with FIA-homologated GT3 racing began 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] Since then, Au has been associated with successive generations of Porsche 911 racecars.

Early GT3 success (2021–2022)

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 and Steffen Görig.[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 in Herberth Motorsport's Pro-Am lineup.[16]

Class wins in major endurance races (2023–present)

In 2023, Au competed in the Spa round of the International GT Open championship alongside Matteo Cairoli, in preparation for the 24 Hours of Spa, and won the race in Pro-Am class.[17] In the 24 Hours of Spa, Au 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 in any class.[18][19][20] In October, 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 this race in any GT category.[25][26][27] Later in the Intercontinental GT Challenge series, Au returned to the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Niederhauser and Loek Hartog, starting this 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] The next round in Dubai saw the team leading at various points, but troubles prevented the trio from scoring podiums. In the final round at Yas Marina, the team managed stay out of trouble and scored second in race one and won the final race, crowning Au and his co-drivers 2024–2025 season champions and earning him an invite to the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans.[31][32]

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

Racing record

Racing career summary

Season Championship 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 N/A NC†
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 25 1st
Asian Le Mans Series – GT Precote Herberth Motorsport 4 0 1 0 0 4.5 15th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A NC†
Dubai 24 Hour – GT3 Am Herberth Motorsport[39] 1 0 0 0 0 8 6th
2022 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Herberth Motorsport[40] 4 0 1 0 1 20 8th
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Pro-Am 1 0 0 0 0 N/A NC†
2023 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Herberth Motorsport[41] 4 0 0 0 0 4 16th
Gulf 12 Hours – Pro-Am 1 0 1 0 1 15 3rd
Intercontinental GT Challenge – Independent Cup Herberth Motorsport
Huber Motorsport[42] 		3 3 2 0 3 75 2nd
International GT Open Huber Motorsport[43][44][45] 1 1 0 1 1 N/A NC†
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze Cup 1 1 1 1 1 N/A NC†
GT World Challenge America – Pro-Am Cup 1 0 0 0 1 N/A NC†
GT World Challenge Asia – Am Modena Motorsports 2 2 0 0 2 N/A NC†
2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Herberth Motorsport[46] 5 0 0 0 0 19 15th
Middle East Trophy – GT3 1 0 0 0 0 24 7th
2024 24 Hours of Nürburgring – SP 9 Pro-Am Lionspeed GP[47] 1 1 0 0 1 25 1st
Intercontinental GT Challenge – Independent Cup Lionspeed GP [48][49]
Lionspeed x Herberth[50]

Herberth Motorsport[51][52][53]

3 3 1 0 3 75 1st
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze Cup Lionspeed x Herberth 1 0 0 0 0 N/A NC†
International GT Open 1 0 0 1 0 N/A NC†
24H Series – GT3 Am Car Collection Motorsport 1 0 0 0 1 N/A NC†
GT World Challenge America – Pro-Am Cup Herberth Motorsport 1 0 1 1 1 N/A NC†
GT World Challenge Asia – Am Audi Sport Asia Team Absolute 2 0 0 0 2 N/A NC†
2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Manthey Racing[54] 6 1 0 0 3 86 1st
2025 Middle East Trophy – GT3 Herberth Motorsport[55][56] 2 0 0 0 1 30 3rd
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup – Bronze Rutronik Racing
Source:[57][58]

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

To Be An Asset Docuseries

The Youtube docuseries To Be An Asset is an unscripted and unfiltered account of Au's journey through endurance racing as a bronze-rated driver. The series is produced on-location by IperFilm with accreditation from the various race organizers, and has garnered approx. one million views from 150,000 subscribers to-date.[59]

Season 1 (Pilot)

The first season captures Au's transition into racing, having retired from finance just as the season began. The four episodes are delineated by the major races they cover, with narration by the drivers and engineers involved, and generally feature a length of 30–40 minutes :

Episode Structure
# Title Release Date Thumbnail Race Event / (Series) Team Co-Drivers Views† Link to Episode
S1E1 "Aspirations"

(Series Premiere)

Nov 9, 2023 2023 Asian Le Mans Series Herberth Motorsport Klaus Bachler,

Alfred Renauer

34,500 [1]
S1E2 "Against All Odds" Dec 13, 2023 2023 24 Hours of Spa

(Intercontinental GT Challenge)

Huber Motorsport Matteo Cairoli, Tim Heinemann, Jannes Fittje 51,000 [2]
S1E3 "Consistency is King" Dec 25, 2023 2023 Indianapolis 8 Hours

(Intercontinental GT Challenge)

Huber Motorsport Laurin Heinrich, Alfred Renauer 55,500 [3]
S1E4 "Falling Apart"

(Season Finale)

Jan 17, 2024 2023 Gulf 12 Hours

(Intercontinental GT Challenge)

Herberth Motorsport Matteo Cairoli, Tim Heinemann 45,000 [4]

† Viewership data as of March 5, 2025

The episodes generated strong responses from English-speaking audiences around the world, and particularly resonated with track day enthusiasts and amateur racers, as observed from the 100+ published comments in the episode pages.

Season 2 (In Release)

Based on feedback from the previous season, filming to season 2 began in December 2023 and continued into February 2025. The new episodes take on a shorter format, averaging 20–25 minutes each, but retain the narrative approach of the first season. A total of 8 episodes are planned, with the last release scheduled for May 2025.

Episode Structure
# Title Release Date Thumbnail Race Event / (Series) Team Co-Drivers Views† Link to Episode
S2E1 "Take a Breath"

(Season Premiere)

Dec 25, 2024 2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series Herberth Motorsport Laurin Heinrich, Tim Heinemann 140,000 [5]
S2E2 "High Expectations" Jan 1, 2025 2023–24 Asian Le Mans Series Herberth Motorsport Laurin Heinrich, Tim Heinemann, Morris Schuring 140,000 [6]
S2E3 "Be Brave" Jan 17, 2025 2024 24 Hours of Nurburgring

(Intercontinental GT Challenge)

Lionspeed GP Patric Niederhauser, Indy Dontje, Patrick Kolb 140,000 [7]
S2E4 "Karma" Feb 3, 2025 2024 24 Hours of Spa

(Intercontinental GT Challenge)

Lionspeed x Herberth Alessio Picariello, Martin Rump, Alexander Fach 67,000 [8]
S2E5 "Kiss the Bricks" Feb 19, 2025 2024 Indianapolis 8 Hour

(Intercontinental GT Challenge)

Herberth Motorsport Patric Niederhauser, Loek Hartog 150,000 [9]
S2E6 "A New Chance" Mar 6, 2025 2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series (Sepang) Manthey Racing Klaus Bachler, Joel Sturm N/A [10]
S2E7 TBA 2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series (Dubai) Manthey Racing Klaus Bachler, Joel Sturm
S2E7 TBA 2024–25 Asian Le Mans Series (Abu Dhabi) Manthey Racing Klaus Bachler, Joel Sturm

† Viewership data as of March 5, 2025

References

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Allikas: Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antares_Au
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