Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2013 Rounds 4&5 Report

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2013 Race Report: Rounds 4&5 Zhuhai International Circuit, China May 3 - 5, 2013 In This Issue: Television Listings Rounds 4&5 Preview Qualifying Qualifying Results Round 4 Round 4 Results Round 5 Round 5 Results 2013 Championship Standings General and Media Enquiries

P1 P1 P2 P3 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P9

Martin Ragginger led the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship coming into Rounds 4&5.

PCCA on TV Highlights from Rounds 2&3 in Shanghai will be shown on now TV’s Point of Wheel, Channel 631, on May 24 at 21:30.

Repeats May 25-28 on Channel 631, with schedules subject to changes.

On Thursday, May 9, tune into Guangdong TV Sports Channel at 23:18 to catch Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Round 1 highlights on Top China Racing.

Stay tuned to the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Weibo and Facebook pages for further updates, including our programmes on now TV, Guangdong Television and on Fox Sports Asia.

Preview : Champion returns to face intensified competition Shanghai. Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Alexandre Imperatori of PICC Team StarChase may have only been absent from the series for two races, but in just six short weeks the level of competition amongst the front-runners has strengthened considerably.

As Imperatori returns for Rounds 4 & 5 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia this weekend at the Zhuhai International Circuit, having missed the last two rounds contesting the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Silverstone, he will be faced with a formidable field of rivals.

Team Eagle’s Martin Ragginger grabbed pole position for both of those races, held in support of the 2013 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX in Shanghai earlier this month, and followed up with two emphatic victories to stand ten points ahead of his closest rival, newcomer Earl Bamber of New Zealand. Bamber, who joined the series this year and competes with Craft Nexus Racing, proved he is quickly mastering the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, with two lightning-quick starts and impressive race performances demonstrating he is a genuine title contender.

Japan’s Keita Sawa, champion in 2011 and racing for LKM Racing Team, put in strong performances in Shanghai, with his

podium finish in Round 2 putting him 18 points adrift of Ragginger and just eight behind Bamber.

Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila, meanwhile, was on the attack in Shanghai and is quickly gaining in both race pace and confidence. Team Yongda Dongfang’s Benjamin Rouget of France has been consistently at the front of the pack and is fifth on the leaderboard heading to Zhuhai.

Imperatori returns to the fray in ninth position in the championship standings behind Budweiser Kamlung Racing’s Tung Ho-Pin, who bounced back to grab 21 points in Shanghai, Team Basetex ace Zhang Da Sheng who, despite a number of setbacks already this season, is showing real race-winning potential.

Motorsport veteran Ringo Chong of Team Kangshun lies three points clear of a trio of China drivers all tied in 11th: Team Betterlife’s Wang Jian Wei; new Team C&D driver for 2013, Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang; and Kamlung Racing’s Li Zhi Cong.

Class B leader is Egidio Perfetti continued on page 2

continued from page 1 of Mentos Racing, who has a perfect score of three category wins in three races. Second in Class B after three races is Dorr McElrea Racing’s Yuey Tan of Singapore.

Tan’s pair of hard-fought podium finishes in Shanghai put him 14 points adrift of Perfetti in the category, while newcomer, Malaysia’s Alif Hamdan of Nexus Racing, lies third.

OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia was another driver absent in

Shanghai after an impressive second place at the season opener in Malaysia, but will be immediately back on the power in Zhuhai.

Joining the series for the Zhuhai weekend in the Team Carrera Cup Asia car is Daniel Bilski. The Hong Kong resident is a keen GT and Classic Car competitor, and was Sports Production Class Winner at the Malaysia Merdeka 12 Hour Endurance Race last year as well as Open Class Champion in the Asia Classic Car Challenge.

Rounds 4 and 5 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will be run over 12 laps of the 4.3km Zhuhai International Circuit, where last year Imperatori took pole position and

both victories, with Perfetti taking the Class B wins. This time around though, with the taste of victory still sweet on the lips of Ragginger, Bamber gaining speed with each outing, Avila looking increasingly strong, and a field bursting with racewinning potential, Imperatori will face fierce competition when he arrives in Zhuhai. For racing fans though, the 25-strong field of identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars piloted by the most talented and competitive sportscar drivers in the region, it will be a showdown to remember.

Qualifying : Storming Ragginger takes pole for Rounds 4 and 5 Zhuhai. Team Eagle’s Martin Ragginger set the overall fastest time during qualifying today, taking pole position for Round 4 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia on the 4.3km Zhuhai International Circuit. Second quickest was Craft Nexus Racing’s Earl Bamber of New Zealand, with Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila third quickest out on track and LKM Racing Team’s Keita Sawa of Japan making up the second row.

In Class B, it was OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia who took his first pole of the season, having missed out on Rounds 2 and 3 in Shanghai last month.

Second in the category was points leader Egidio Perfetti of Mentos Racing with Dorr McElrea Racing’s Yuey Tan of Singapore third.

With each driver’s second best lap setting the grid for Round 5, the first two rows will be the same, but with Basetex Racing’s Zhang Da Sheng and reigning champion Alexandre Imperatori of PICC Team StarChase making up the third

OpenRoad Racing driver Francis Tjia was the fastest Class B driver in Saturday’s Qualifying session.

row. In Class B, Round 5 will see Tan take pole ahead of Asia Racing Team’s Li Chao and Perfetti.

As the 25-strong field headed out on track, the front runners were immediately quick, with Bamber fastest and Ragginger, Sawa, Imperatori and Tung all lapping in under 1:38 seconds. However, just minutes into the session Ragginger snatched provisional pole with a scorching lap of 1:37.010, smashing last year’s best qualifying time set by reigning champion, PICC Team StarChase driver Alexandre Imperatori.

A third of the way through the single qualifying session, Avila had climbed the time sheets to sit third behind Ragginger and Bamber, who had bettered his time and closed the gap to the Austrian to 0.074 of a second. Imperatori was gaining ground too, working his way up to fifth on the time sheets.

Ragginger looked to have sealed the deal until the closing minutes when Bamber

grabbed the top spot, breaking the 1:37 second barrier. In the dying seconds of the 30-minute session though Ragginger fought back, reclaiming pole by just four hundredths of a second.

Said Ragginger: “It’s pretty close here as you can see from the time sheets. It seems the others have come closer this time. I’m hoping for two clean races as it’s important to score points. Earl is the closest, so it’s important I keep him behind me. We used both sets of tyres in the session but if we’d saved them, we wouldn’t be on pole.”

Having struggled in free practice, Bamber was delighted to be right on the pace when it counted most: “We chipped away at it, and I was quite surprised at our lap time. I thought continued on page 3

continued from page 2 1:36.9 would be enough, but Martin had a bit more this time. We start the race on the inside, so it’ll be a big battle into Turn 1, and a battle for the whole race. If you break one second on the first lap, then you’ve got it, but with the bumps it’s easy to make a mistake.

We’re getting more confident and making progress but we can’t get too greedy. These guys are all very competitive and it’s a pleasure to be racing against them.”

Avila was also pleased to be at the sharp end of the highlycompetitive grid, and was confident of his pace ahead of the 12-lap race: “The second set of tyres was better, but there was some traffic. Even so, we did a good time and we had the pace to be in the 1:36.9s. If I can have a good fight in the race and pass, that would be great!”

Francis Tjia who was relishing the opportunity to focus on wins rather than points: “I’m feeling good! I knew at the start of the season that I wouldn’t be able to do every event, so it’s nice to put thoughts of the championship out of the way, to drive my heart out and not worry about points.

The race is going to be a great battle! The first lap always creates some chaos here, so you have to get through that first and then go for the guys ahead.”

Following the session, three drivers were penalised by the Stewards for race regulation infringements: Imperatori was handed a two place grid penalty for Round 4; Team Yongda Dongfang’s Benjamin Rouget had his first and second best times removed; while Kamlung Racing’s Li Zhi Cong forfeit his fastest time.

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Mentos Racing driver Egidio Perfetti was second qickest Class B driver in Qualifying.

Qualifying Results - Round 4 Pos No Name

Class Entrant

Time

1

86

Martin RAGGINGER (AUT)

Team Eagle (CHN)

1:36.933

2

7

Earl BAMBER (NZL)

Craft Nexus Racing (MAS)

+0.041

3

20

Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)

Team Jebsen (HKG)

+0.191

4

38

Keita SAWA (JPN)

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

+0.617

5

99

Alexandre IMPERATORI (HKG)

PICC Team StarChase (HKG)

+0.689

6

58

TUNG Ho-Pin (CHN)

Budweiser Kamlung Racing (MAS)

+0.711

7

78

ZHANG Da Sheng (CHN)

Basetex Racing (CHN)

+0.817

8

66

Jason ZHANG Zhi Qiang (CHN)

Team C&D (CHN)

+1.108

9

8

Benjamin ROUGET (FRA)

Team Yongda Dongfang (CHN)

+1.232

10

21

Francis TJIA (HKG)

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

+1.583

11

68

Peter LI Zhi Cong (CHN)

Kamlung Racing (MAS)

+1.593

12

9

WANG Jian Wei (CHN)

Team Betterlife (CHN)

+1.631

13

88

Egidio PERFETTI (SIN)

B

Mentos Racing (SIN)

+1.694

14

5

Yuey TAN (SIN)

B

Dorr McElrea Racing (SIN)

+1.799

15

96

LI Chao (CHN)

B

Asia Racing Team (CHN)

+1.880

16

72

Alif HAMDAN (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

+2.208

17

16

Wayne SHEN (HKG)

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

+2.532

18

33

Samson CHAN (HKG)

B

Samson Chan (HKG)

+2.644

19

3

*Daniel BILSKI (HKG)

B

Team Carrera Cup Asia (CHN)

+2.924

20

11

Ringo CHONG (SIN)

Team Kangshun (CHN)

+2.974

21

83

Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG)

B

Dr. Ma Chi Min (HKG)

+3.312

22

28

John SHEN (HKG)

B

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

+3.218

23

27

Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

+3.678

24

22

SIU Yuk Lung (HKG)

B

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

+4.132

25

18

Marcel TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

+4.246

* indicates non-series registered

B

Dorr McElrea Racing driver Yuey Tan in Class B.

Qualifying Results - Round 5 Pos No Name

(Top down) • Team Budweiser Kamlung Racing driver Tung Ho-Pin. • LKM Racing Team’s Keita Sawa.

• Asia Racing Team’s Li Chao •Team Basetex driver Zhang Da Sheng

Class Entrant

Time

1

86

Martin RAGGINGER (AUT)

Team Eagle (CHN)

1:36.933

2

7

Earl BAMBER (NZL)

Craft Nexus Racing (MAS)

1:37.084

3

20

Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)

Team Jebsen (HKG)

1:37.256

4

38

Keita SAWA (JPN)

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

1:37.524

5

78

ZHANG Da Sheng (CHN)

Basetex Racing (CHN)

1:37.865

6

99

Alexandre IMPERATORI (SUI)

PICC Team StarChase (CHN)

1:37.885

7

58

TUNG Ho-Pin (CHN)

Budweiser Kamlung Racing (CHN)

1:37.996

8

66

Jason ZHANG Zhiqiang (CHN)

Team C&D (CHN)

1:38.020

9

8

Benjamin ROUGET (FRA)

Team Yongda Dongfang (CHN)

1:38.474

10

9

WANG Jian Wei (CHN)

Team Betterlife (CHN)

1:38.630

11

68

Peter LI Zhi Cong (CHN)

Kamlung Racing (HKG)

1:38.642

12

5

Yuey TAN (SIN)

B

Dorr McElrea Racing (SIN)

1:38.822

13

96

LI Chao (CHN)

B

Asia Racing Team (CHN)

1:38.905

14

88

Egidio PERFETTI (SIN)

B

Mentos Racing (SIN)

1:38.937

15

21

Francis TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

1:38.983

16

72

Alif HAMDAN (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

1:39.592

17

16

Wayne SHEN (HKG)

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

1:39.641

18

33

Samson CHAN (HKG)

B

Samson Chan (HKG)

1:39.891

19

3

*Daniel BILSKI (HKG)

B

Team Carrera Cup Asia (CHN)

1:39.913

20

83

MA Chi Min (HKG)

B

Dr. Ma Chi Min (HKG)

1:40.068

21

28

John SHEN (HKG)

B

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

1:40.294

22

27

Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

1:40.676

23

11

Ringo CHONG (SIN)

Team Kangshun (CHN)

1:40.880

24

22

SIU Yuk Lung (HKG)

B

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

1:41.093

25

18

Marcel TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

1:41.226

* indicates non-series registered

Earl Bamber (centre) with second-place finisher Rodolfo Avila (left) and Tung Ho-Pin (right), who reached the poduim for the first time this season.

Round 4 : Bamber takes maiden victory in Zhuhai Zhuhai. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia newcomer Earl Bamber of New Zealand took his inaugural series victory today, winning Round 4 in convincing style. The Craft Nexus Racing 22-year-old crossed the line ahead of Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila and Budweiser Kamlung Racing’s Tung Ho-Pin of China after a drama-filled 12 lap race on the Zhuhai International Circuit.

OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia continued his storming return to the series, taking the Class B win, with points leader Egidio Perfetti of Mentos Racing in second. Dorr McElrea Racing’s Yuey Tan made a brilliant recovery from an opening lap off to take third in the category.

Championship leader and pole-sitter Martin Ragginger was sidelined when a suspension problem struck on the formation lap. The Team Eagle driver limped back to the pits and was eventually able to start the race from pit lane, powering through the field to cross the line in seventh.

With the win, Bamber and Ragginger are now tied at the

top of the leaderboard, with Avila third, a further 12 points adrift. Perfetti continues to lead the Class B championship, with Tan holding strong in second and Malaysian Alif Hamdan third in the category.

Bamber was over the moon with his maiden series’ victory. “It’s been an amazing day for the team. We’ve slowly worked our way up and it’s been a challenge over the first couple of races and, last time we got really close at the top so it’s a great feeling to win.

We were a little bit lucky, but this is what we’ve been aiming for. Hopefully we get some more of this tomorrow and then for the rest of the season as well.”

Tung, who got by LKM Racing’s Keita Sawa at the start, celebrated his first podium of the 2013 season and was grateful to those who assisted him in getting there. “I had a good start and managed to go around the outside of Sawa on Turn 1. We were side by side on Turn 2, and Turn 3 was basically mine. I had a bit of luck in the hairpin and then after that it was a pretty straightforward race. There are a lot of guests from Budweiser here this weekend and I’m very happy to bring them a good result. In the first two events of the season, I struggled with a car that wasn’t doing what I wanted, so this race I had a chance, thanks to Mr. Mak and Arrows Racing, to have better equipment and I’m happy that it paid off immediately.”

Francis Tjia, who missed Rounds 2 and 3 in Shanghai, was delighted to make a return to the top step of the podium.

“I didn’t win at all last year so it’s been a while, but today wasn’t too challenging for me – I managed to avoid the mayhem!” Francis Tjia said. “My main challengers were a bit behind me so I wanted to drive a controlled race. In the last couple of laps, I eased off to make sure I didn’t make any mistakes.”

As the lights went out, the field thundered off the grid with Bamber leading the pack into the notorious Turn 1 with Avila in hot pursuit. Tung and Sawa were two abreast into Turn 2, with the Chinese driver prevailing.

However, Modena Motorsports’ Wayne Shen had failed to get off the grid, and the Safety Car was called out. Tan was caught by surprise, and spun out behind the Safety Car but managed to rejoin the fray.

As the cars crossed the line at the end of the opening lap, Bamber, Avila and Tung were followed by reigning champion Alexandre Imperatori of PICC Team StarChase, Team Yongda Dongfang’s Benjamin Rouget, Team C&D’s Zhang Zhi Qiang, with Sawa down in seventh ahead of Francis Tjia.

Shortly after racing resumed at the end of the opening lap, Team Betterlife’s Wang Jian Wei had a major off, hitting the wall hard. That brought continued on page 6

continued from page 5 the Safety Car out for the second time and Bamber once again lost the gap he’d pulled out from the hard-charging Avila. In Class B, Francis Tjia continued to lead the category from Perfetti with newcomer Hamdan third.

As racing resumed for the second time, Avila piled the pressure on Bamber with lights blazing, but the cool-headed New Zealander was undaunted.

Lap 6 saw Imperatori park up with a fuel pump failure, ending his race on his comeback.

Sawa meanwhile was closing in on Zhang Zhi Qiang, getting by on that lap and taking the charge to Rouget.

Further back, Kamlung Racing’s Li Zhi Cong got by Francis Tjia before going off a lap later. Hamdan’s race finished after he spun in the closing stages, spoiling what had been a strong run.

As the pack headed for the chequered flag, Sawa saw his chance and deftly dived past Rouget to go fourth, but ran out of laps to fight for a podium place.

Up ahead the action was far from over. A back marker gave Avila the chance to close up to Bamber and the final lap shaped up for a pitched battle for victory.

Right on the limit, the Macau driver gave it his all, setting the fastest lap of the race, but with tyre wear inevitably coming in to play at the end of 12 hardfought laps, he eased off to take home points for second.

“I did think, ‘alright there’s a chance here’, and so I gave it a bit extra, but even though Earl was held up for three or four corners, it still wasn’t enough for me to get close enough to make the move,” Avila said.

The 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season continues with Round 5 run over 12 laps of the 4.3km Zhuhai International Circuit. With Ragginger on pole position, and Bamber lining up alongside, fans can look forward to another sizzling performance.

Class B winner Francis Tjia (centre) celebrates on podium with Egidio Perfetti (left) and Yuey Tan (right), who finished third.

Results - Round 4 Pos No

Name

1

7

Earl BAMBER (NZL)

Craft Nexus Racing (MAS)

22:44.852

2

20

Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)

Team Jebsen (HKG)

22:45.900

3

58

TUNG Ho-Pin (CHN)

Budweiser Kamlung Racing (MAS)

22:50.369

4

38

Keita SAWA (JPN)

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

22:54.026

5

8

Benjamin ROUGET (FRA)

Team Yongda Dongfang (CHN)

22:55.186

6

66

Jason ZHANG Zhi Qiang (CHN)

Team C&D (CHN)

22:58.862

7

86

Martin RAGGINGER (AUT)

Team Eagle (CHN)

23:00.166

8

68

Peter LI Zhi Cong (CHN)

Kamlung Racing (MAS)

23:01.302

9

21

Francis TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

23:05.213

10

88

Egidio PERFETTI (SIN)

B

Mentos Racing (SIN)

23:05.815

11

78

ZHANG Da Sheng (CHN)

Basetex Racing (CHN)

23:07.293

12

11

Ringo CHONG (SIN)

Team Kangshun (CHN)

23:18.339

13

5

Yuey TAN (SIN)

B

Dorr McElrea Racing (SIN)

23:21.110

14

96

LI Chao (CHN)

B

Asia Racing Team (CHN)

23:27.491

15

22

SIU Yuk Lung (HKG)

B

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

23:28.303

16

72

Alif HAMDAN (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

23:28.555

17

3

*Daniel BILSKI (HKG)

B

Team Carrera Cup Asia (CHN)

23:32.992

18

18

Marcel TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

23:34.048

19

83

Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG)

B

Dr. Ma Chi Min (HKG)

23:37.652

20

28

John SHEN (HKG)

B

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

1 Lap

21

33

Samson CHAN (HKG)

B

Samson Chan (HKG)

1 Lap

DNF

27

Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

-

DNF

99

Alexandre IMPERATORI (HKG)

PICC Team StarChase (HKG)

-

DNF

9

WANG Jian Wei (CHN)

Team Betterlife (CHN)

-

DNF

16

Wayne SHEN (HKG)

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

-

* indicates non-series registered

Class Entrant

Time

The start of Round 5 at the Zhuhai International Circuit.

Round 5 : Bamber takes second victory to lead championship Zhuhai. Craft Nexus Racing ace Earl Bamber took his second Porsche Carrera Cup Asia victory today to put him top of the championship leaderboard ahead of Team Eagle’s Martin Ragginger of Austria who finished third in Round 5 behind Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila of Macau, who took his second podium finish of the weekend.

In Class B, points leader Egidio Perfetti took the win to strengthen his championship advantage, with Asia Racing Team’s Li Chao of China in second.

OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia took the final podium place after Dorr McElrea Racing’s Yuey Tan dramatically spun out on the final lap.

Bamber now leads the race for the 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia overall championship with a four point advantage over Ragginger, with Avila a further ten points adrift. In Class B, Perfetti has a comfortable lead of 36 points ahead of Tan, with Li Chao just a single point behind the Singaporean.

Said Bamber following his second victory: “We’ve been good at starts this season, and

we got a great jump off the line. I was hoping to get ahead of Martin, and then put in three or four hard laps, which we managed to do.

The car was fantastic, and Craft Nexus gave me a very strong car. I’m just looking forward to the next race!”

Avila had it all to do in the race, keeping Bamber within striking distance but at the same time holding off an unrelenting Ragginger: “My main concern was Martin. He’s ahead of me in the championship, so that was the priority.

Our pace was very good. At one point, near the beginning, I thought Martin could catch me, but then I saw the three of us stabilized our lap times. At the end of the day, it’s good for me, the team and our championship campaign - a good weekend all round.”

Ragginger admitted he never had a realistic chance of getting by Avila. Asked if there had been a window of opportunity, he was adamant: “Never!” he said. “It’s so tight.

We had a good pace but it’s difficult to pass here.”

Class B points leader Perfetti was pleased to have his Mentos Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car back in optimum form after technical problems earlier in the weekend: “It was a good result, and the car is now back to how it was in Shanghai. Both myself and Francis got a good start, but I think my tyres were a bit better and I tried to stay with them. I made a mistake on the back, so then I just tried to control the race a bit.”

Francis Tjia had predicted a tougher race

than in Round 4, and his was certainly not short of drama: “I passed Egidio into Turn 1, but I knew he was quick and after a couple of laps it was too difficult to keep him behind me. I made a mistake – braked a bit late – and went onto the grass and gravel and a few cars passed me. It was only on the last lap when Yuey and Li Chao were battling and Yuey went out that I got the podium position back, so I’m very happy.”

Li Chao was delighted to take his first Class B podium: “As a Chinese driver I’m very happy to be on the podium at a home track of Zhuhai. In yesterday’s race I was a bit unlucky, but today I was more consistent and finally I’m here (on the podium)!”

Bamber stole the march on polesitter Ragginger as the lights went out, and didn’t put a wheel wrong for the entire 12-lap race. Avila and LKM Racing Team’s Keita Sawa also got by Ragginger at the start, while reigning champion, PICC Team StarChase driver Alexandre Imperatori, also dropped back down the order from his third row grid position.

While Sawa had been running in third, first Ragginger got by and then a flying Zhang Da Sheng of Team Basetex passed him too, demoting the continued on page 8

continued from page 7 Japanese driver to fifth in the order ahead of Budweiser Kamlung Racing’s Tung Ho-Pin of China.

At the end of Lap 2, Bamber had pulled out a margin of just over a second, with Ragginger closing in fast on Avila. Behind Zhang Da Sheng in fourth, Sawa, Tung and Team Yongda Dongfang’s Benjamin Rouget were tightly packed.

On Lap 8, Tung was desperately looking to find a way past Sawa and made his move with the Japanese ace defending his position.

The move cost Tung dearly, dropping him down the order to eighth behind Imperatori.

Bamber crossed the line 0.799 of a second ahead of Avila in second, with Ragginger taking a well-earned podium finish after a challenging weekend. Zhang Da Sheng, although missing out on a podium this weekend, continued to demonstrate his continued improvement in pace this season with a strong performance to take fourth ahead of former Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Sawa, Rouget and Imperatori.

Said Zhang: “I’m very happy, even if I’m not on the podium.

Nearly, nearly there but I need to work harder. The competition is tougher this season. In the first lap, I was beside Sawa, but he braked too late and I got by him, but the other three were too fast for me.”

It was an unlucky weekend for Team Betterlife’s Wang Jian Wei. After a heavy off in Round 4, chassis damage meant he was unable to take the start in Round 5.

After a spectacular Zhuhai weekend, and with the competition for the championship titles heating up with every passing race, the stage is set for a thunderous return to the demanding Ordos circuit in Inner Mongolia from July 5 to 7.

Results - Round 5 Pos No

Name

1

7

2 3

Class

Entrant

Time

Earl BAMBER (NZL)

Craft Nexus Racing (MAS)

19:43.331

20

Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)

Team Jebsen (HKG)

+0.799

86

Martin RAGGINGER (AUT)

Team Eagle (CHN)

+1.512

4

78

ZHANG Da Sheng (CHN)

Basetex Racing (CHN)

+7.586

5

38

Keita SAWA (JPN)

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

+13.929

6

8

Benjamin ROUGET (FRA)

Team Yongda Dongfang (CHN)

+15.623

7

99

Alexandre IMPERATORI (HKG)

PICC Team StarChase (HKG)

+16.306

8

58

TUNG Ho-Pin (CHN)

Budweiser Kamlung Racing (MAS)

+17.478

9

88

Egidio PERFETTI (SIN)

B

Mentos Racing (SIN)

+24.665

10

96

LI Chao (CHN)

B

Asia Racing Team (CHN)

+32.568

11

16

Wayne SHEN (HKG)

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

+33.276

12

21

Francis TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

+34.083

13

3

*Daniel BILSKI (HKG)

B

Team Carrera Cup Asia (CHN)

+38.390

14

11

Ringo CHONG (SIN)

Team Kangshun (CHN)

+38.962

15

66

Jason ZHANG Zhi Qiang (CHN)

Team C&D (CHN)

+46.873

16

28

John SHEN (HKG)

B

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

+1:02.904

17

27

Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

+1:03.279

18

22

SIU Yuk Lung (HKG)

B

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

+1:04.066

19

18

Marcel TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

+1:21.179

-

5

Yuey TAN (SIN)

B

Dorr McElrea Racing (SIN)

DNF

-

68

Peter LI Zhi Cong (CHN)

Kamlung Racing (MAS)

DNF

-

83

Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG)

B

Dr. Ma Chi Min (HKG)

DNF

-

33

Samson CHAN (HKG)

B

Samson Chan (HKG)

DNF

-

72

Alif HAMDAN (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

DNF

-

9

WANG Jian Wei (CHN)

Team Betterlife (CHN)

DNS

* indicates non-series registered

Earl Bamber made it two wins in a row for Craft Nexus Racing.

For media access to Porsche Carrera Cup Asia photos and press releases, please apply for media registration by visiting:

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Overall Standings after Round 5 Pos

Comp

Driver

Entrant

Points

1

7

Earl BAMBER

Craft Nexus Racing

92

2

86

Martin RAGGINGER

Team Eagle

88

3

20

Rodolfo AVILA

Team Jebsen

78

4

38

Keita SAWA

LKM Racing Team

70

5

8

Benjamin ROUGET

Team Yongda Dongfan

50

6

58

TUNG Ho-Pin

Budwesiser Kamlung Racing

45

7

78

ZHANG Da Sheng

Basetex Racing

40

8

88

Egidio PERFETTI

Mentos Racing

37

9

99

Alexandre IMPERATORI

PICC Team StarChase

27

10

66

Janson ZHANG Zhi Qiang

Team C&D

26

11

11

Ringo CHONG

Team Kangshun

24

12

68

LI Zhi Cong

Kamlung Racing

22

13

21

Francis TJIA

OpenRoad Racing

16

9

WANG Jian Wei

Team Betterlife

14

16

Wayne SHEN

Modena Motorsports

14

16

5

Yuey TAN

Dorr McElrea Racing

11

17

96

LI Chao

Asia Racing Team

8

72

Alif HAMDAN

Nexus Racing

5

25

Christian CHIA

OpenRoad Racing

5

20

99

Nataxha SEATTER*

PICC StarChase

3

21

28

John SHEN

Modena Motorsports

2

22

Alan SIU

LKM Racing Team

1

83

Dr. MA Chi Min

Dr. Ma Chi Min

0

33

Samson CHAN

Samson Chan

0

27

Adrian Henry D’SILVA

Nexus Racing

0

18

Marcel TJIA

OpenRoad Racing

0

21

Benny LIM*

OpenRoad Racing

0

14

18

22

Top: On the grid ahead of Round 5 Middle: Adrian Henry D’Silva of Nexus Racing Above: Martin Ragginger finished 3rd in Round 5

We want to hear from you!

General Enquiries: Oliver Schwab Motorsport Manager, Porsche China oliver.schwab@porsche.cn Tel: +86 21 – 6156 5830 Media Enquiries: Nikki Kemp Director, PR Plus Limited nikki@prplus.com.hk Tel: +852 - 25756995

Team C&D driver Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang in action.

Check out our website at: www.carreracupasia.com

Behind the Scenes at the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

Class B Standings after Round 5 Pos

Comp

Driver

Entrant

Points

1

88

Egidio PERFETTI

Mentos Racing

100

2

5

Yuey TAN

Dorr McElrea Racing

64

3

96

LI Chao

Asia Racing Team

63

28

John SHEN

Modena Motorsports

55

21

Francis TJIA

OpenRoad Racing

55

6

72

Alif HAMDAN

Nexus Racing

54

7

22

Alan SIU

LKM Racing Team

42

8

25

Christian CHIA

OpenRoad Racing

34

9

83

Dr. MA Chi Min

Dr. MA Chi Min

33

10

27

Adrian Henry D’SLIVA

Nexus Racing

28

11

18

Marcel TJIA

OpenRaod Racing

25

12

33

Samson CHAN

Samson Chan

23

13

21

Benny LIM

OpenRoad Racing

5

4

(Clockwise from top right) • Zhang Da Sheng from Team Basetex.

• Team Jebsen driver Rodolfo Avila prepares for the race.

• Budweiser Kamlung Racing’s Tung Ho-Pin prepares for the race.

• Team Eagle driver Martin Ragginger.

• Team Carrera Cup Asia driver Daniel Bilski.

•The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia paddock.

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia quote of the weekend:

“We’ve been good at starts this season, and we got a great jump off the line. I was hoping to get ahead of Martin, and then put in three or four hard laps, which we managed to do. The car was fantastic, and Craft Nexus gave me a very strong car. I’m just looking forward to the next race!”

- Earl Bamber