FastMotoring Motor News In Speed

The official Audi R8 LMS Cup entry celebrated its first win of the season in the GT Asia Series, with a lights-to-flag victory in a wet Round 9 at Japan’s 4.673km Autopolis International Circuit.

The pairing of Hong Kong’s Marchy Lee and Jeffrey Lee of Chinese Taipei were at their best as the race programme for the penultimate rounds of the championship had to be changed at the last minute to accommodate the treacherously wet conditions. As a result, both Rounds 9 & 10 were moved to Saturday, with Marchy and Jeffrey celebrating their maiden win together in Round 9, before just missing out on a podium finish with fourth-place in Round 10.

The team now lies third on the championship leaderboard heading into November’s show-stopping season finale held as part of the Macau GT Cup at the 59th Macau Grand Prix.

As the countdown to the conclusion of the season began, the team wasted no time in pushing their Audi R8 LMS ultra to the limits. The team set the quickest time in free practice and, with changes to the race programme seeing those practice times become qualifying for Round 9, Marchy and Jeffrey took pole position.

Marchy maximised their pole advantage, fully utilising his experience and the Audi lightweight technology to pull a gap from the chasing pack. The pit stop and driver change went swimmingly, and Jeffrey roared the Audi R8 LMS ultra back into action, determined to strengthen the team’s lead.

Heavy rain had made the track difficult to navigate and with several cars spinning, the Safety Car was called out two laps later and remained in place for the duration of the race.

Round 10 was moved to Saturday in anticipation of worsening weather conditions on Sunday. On pole again after their Round 9 victory, Jeffrey took the first stint and got off to a strong start, but faced with furious competition, dropped down to fifth.

Following the driver change, Marchy set to work to fight back to podium contention. Demonstrating the speed and agility of the Audi R8 LMS ultra, Marchy set the fastest lap of the race on this charge. With too few laps remaining to catch the race leaders, Marchy did manage to make up a place before the flag.

Commented Director of Audi Sport customer racing in China, Rene Koneberg: “We are thrilled to be celebrating our maiden victory with the official Audi R8 LMS Cup entry in the GT Asia Series, and congratulations to Marchy, Jeffrey and the team for putting together such a strong performance in incredibly challenging track conditions. We have proved the performance and reliability of the Audi R8 LMS ultra in all conditions – not only by recording the fastest lap, but also through the stability and handling of the car in extremely wet conditions.”

Moving next, the Audi R8 LMS Cup entry is the GT Asia Series’ showcase Round 11 season finale as part of the Macau GT Cup at the 59th Macau Grand Prix in November.

Following after Round 7, Alexandre Imperatori completed a maximum points haul this weekend in Malaysia by taking victory in Round 8 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia after Team Eagle – Jiejun & Junbaojie driver Martin Ragginger was handed a 30-second time penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag.

Ragginger crossed the line first after an 11-lap thriller at the 5.54km Sepang International Circuit.  The Austrian had fought off an unrelenting attack from points leader Imperatori to lead Round 8 from 7th on the grid.

Third over the line, but second in the results, was Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila, with just over half a second separating the top three at the finish.

Asia Racing Team’s Huang Chu Han took the Class B win, with Modena Motorsports’ Wayne Shen, who had started from pole having finished Round 7 in 8th, joining him on the podium along with OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia.

Imperatori further strengthens his hold in the championship leaderboard, although the title is still wide open.  The Shanghai-based Swiss talent leads from reigning champion Keita Sawa of the LKM Racing Team by 34 points, with Avila and Budweiser Team StarChase driver Tung Ho-Pin tied in third.  In Class B, Shen has increased his lead over second-placed Egidio Perfetti to 32 points.

For Imperatori, who started from 8th on the grid having won Round 7, the epic battle was further evidence that the new reverse grid regulation is proving a masterstroke:  “It’s offering a great show for spectators.  Martin and I both had a great start, and it was quite amazing to be up in the top five after the first couple of corners.  At one stage I had to go on the grass to avoid contact with Martin, but I kept the championship points in mind so was pushing hard but trying to avoid contact.  Martin made no mistakes and stayed on the line as he should, and I couldn’t find a way past.”

Avila was thrilled to be back on the podium, having maximized his new tyres:  “I started well, but released the clutch too quickly so lost some places with wheelspin. Then the tyres came in, and I made some places but was held up for a while.  Once I made it past (Keita) Sawa, I decided to join the party.  I knew if Martin or Alex made a mistake, I was right there.”

In Class B, winner Huang, who had finished 3rd in the earlier round, was already looking ahead to the next races:  “This time I was more cautious with my tyres, but this is the start of many more wins to come!”

Starting alongside Shen on the front row was Team Yongda Dongfang driver Benjamin Rouget, who shot off the grid like lightning at the start, building up a gap of more than 1.5 seconds by the close of the opening lap.  As the Frenchman set about pulling away at the front, behind him LKM Racing Team’s Sawa was on a charge, passing Ragginger to grab 2nd.  Any thoughts the Austrian had of reclaiming the position had to be put hold as Imperatori pounced, piling on the pressure and briefly giving Sawa the smallest of breathing spaces. 

Right on the limit, Imperatori dramatically ran wide and onto the grass, allowing Budweiser Team StarChase driver Tung Ho-Pin to get by briefly.  Avila tried but failed to follow Tung, remaining behind Imperatori, as Ragginger took the chase to Sawa ahead.  Rouget, meanwhile, had increased his lead to more than two seconds by the end of Lap 3, but it was to be short lived.

In searing heat, Ragginger held off a sustained and fierce attack from Imperatori while keeping Sawa firmly in his sights, plunging past the Japanese driver on Lap 5, and hunting down Rouget.  Imperatori was not far behind though, and was back on Ragginger’s bumper almost immediately.  Avila, too, was on a charge, passing first Tung then Sawa, and suddenly looming large in Imperatori’s mirrors.

By the end of Lap 7, the pack had reeled in Rouget, with Ragginger and Imperatori getting by and Avila joining the epic four-car battle, the Macau racer getting by the Frenchman. Sawa, too, was still in the fight, also passing Rouget in the penultimate lap.

The last-lap thriller saw Imperatori giving it everything he had, headlights ablaze, Ragginger holding his line superbly, and Avila glued to the Swiss driver’s bumper awaiting an error.  Following an inquiry by race Stewards, Ragginger was handed the penalty which demoted him 9th in the order.

As it thunders towards the brilliant climax to its 10th season, the series is back in action later this month with the Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia – Singapore 2012 on the Marina Bay street circuit as part of FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX which happening from September 21-23, 2012.

**Provisional Results – Round 8

*Non series registered 

Fastest Lap: Alexandre Imperatori/PICC Team StarChase/2:12.119/149.092kph

#86 – 30 second penalty added to total time (overtaking under yellow flag)

**Provisional Points after Round 8

Overall

Class B

**Results and Points provisional, pending a technical investigation

Photo Gallery: 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Rounds 7 & 8

This morning at Sepang International Circuit, Alexandre Imperatori of PICC Team StarChase held firm under pressure from a hard-charging Martin Ragginger to take victory in Round 7 of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, with Tung Ho-Pin claiming third.

After 11 laps of superb racing action, Modena Motorsports’ Wayne Shen took Class B honours, propelling him to the top of the category leaderboard.  Second was OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia, with Huang Chu Han of Asia Racing Team in third.

Again, Imperatori now leads the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship race with a margin of 30 points from reigning champion Keita Sawa of the LKM Racing Team, while Shen now has a 14 point advantage over Seminole Racing Team’s Egidio Perfetti in Class B.

A dramatic start saw a coming together between Team Basetex driver Zhang Da Sheng and Perfetti going in to Turn 2, with the incident causing the retirement of several drivers.

Check this recorded video from the onboard camera for the incident!

Imperatori got away well from pole, but Team Eagle – Jiejun & Junbaojie driver Ragginger was keeping the Swiss star firmly in his sights, piling on the pressure from the off.  Behind the pair, reigning champion Keita Sawa of the LKM Racing Team had managed to get by Tung at the start to grab third.

The opening lap incident brought out the Safety Car, closing up the field.  At the restart on lap 5, while Imperatori held the lead, the pressure from Ragginger was making its mark and the 24-year-old locked up under braking, almost losing his race.  He recovered well, however and, despite a valiant effort from the Austrian, held on to take the chequered flag and extend his points advantage.

Behind the pair, Tung was right on Sawa’s tail, attempting to get by several times before finally making it stick on Lap 9, despite a slow puncture.  The battle between the pair allowed Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila close in, with the Macau racer getting past Sawa to take 4th on the penultimate lap.

For Imperatori, it was a relief to cross the line after a close call at the restart after the Safety Car period:  “It was a matter of keeping Martin Ragginger behind me, which is never easy!  The track conditions were quite tricky after yesterday’s MMER race, very different from Friday’s qualifying.  I nearly threw it away a couple of corners after the restart when I locked up.  I barely escaped with it!”

Ragginger conceded that Imperatori had controlled the race, but vowed to keep the pressure on in Round 8, making it clear he is on the hunt for maximum points.  Tung, like Imperatori, was relieved to make it across the line:  “I had a slowly-deflating left front tyre.  When I got to Parc Ferme it was completely empty, so I was lucky to have made the finish.”

For Shen, who had battled technical issues in qualifying, setting the 6th fastest Class B time, it was an impressive comeback.  Biding his time behind Huang, he was ready to pounce the moment his rival slipped up to grab the lead.  Francis Tjia elected to play it safe, despite an attempt at getting by at Turn 4, but threw down the gauntlet for Round 8, saying:  “I decided it was better to stay friends this time, but he’d better watch out in the next race!”

With the top eight reversed on the grid for Round 8, Shen will be on pole alongside Benjamin Rouget of Team Yongda Dongfang, and Team Betterlife’s Wang Jian Wei and Sawa making up the second row. 

The stage is set for an even more dramatic showdown in the second 11-lap race of the weekend at Malaysia’s 5.54km Sepang International Circuit.

**Results – Round 7

*Non series registered 

Fastest Lap: Alexandre Imperatori/PICC Team StarChase/2:10.762/140.097kph

**Points after Round 7

Overall

Class B

**Results and Points provisional, pending technical investigation

PICC Team StarChase ace and the current Porsche Carrera Cup Asia points-leader Alexander Imperatori proved ice-cool in the searing heat of Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit today to take a commanding pole position for Round 7.  Imperatori clocked a time of 2:09.062 in his single flying lap of the session, more than six tenths of a second faster than closest challenger, Austrian Martin Ragginger of Team Eagle – Jiejun & Junbaojie.

Making up the second row for the start of the first of Sunday’s two, 11-lap races on the 5.54km circuit will be Imperatori’s team mate, Budweiser Team StarChase driver Tung Ho-Pin and reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion, Keita Sawa of the LKM Racing Team.  Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila and TeamYongda Dongfang driver Benjamin Rouget will start from the third row.

The battle for pole position in Class B was nothing short of frenzied, providing last-minute drama when OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia snatched pole position from a hard-charging Yuey Tan in the final 30 seconds of the half-hour session.  Both Tjia and Asia Racing Team’s Huang Chu Han had taken provisional pole during the session, before relinquishing it to Tan. Tjia was not done though, and put together the perfect lap just in time. 

Class B points leader, Egidio Perfetti of Seminole Racing Team, had a strong second stint during the session to climb the timing sheets, clocking the fourth fastest lap in the class behind Huang.

Flying the flag for Malaysia this weekend are series regular, Nexus Racing’s Adrian Henry D’Silva, 8th in Class B, and making his Porsche Carrera Cup Asia debut as a guest driver, Datuk Azman Yahya.

For Imperatori, who had a challenging weekend in Ordos last month where he saw his unbroken run of victories come to an end, it was a gratifying comeback: “It’s the best case scenario for us.  I was looking forward to coming here, and it has all come together nicely.  We really managed to exploit our tyre grip today, and it’s a fantastic rebound for us.”

Team mate Tung, very much the consummate racing driver, was less than pleased to play second fiddle to Imperatori, but impressed on his sportscar debut on the Malaysian track:  “The driving style required in a Porsche is quite different from a single seater.  You still need to be aggressive, but in a different way.  I wasn’t very happy with my first stint, but the second was slightly better.”

Ragginger, who topped both Thursday’s free practice sessions, was left puzzling how his rival had found the extra six tenths.  “I was a bit surprised, and we need to find a better solution.  We’ll be trying to fight in the race though!”

Class B pole sitter Francis Tjia, currently third in the category points chase, it has been a good weekend so far:  “I knew I had a quick car.  I had been making small mistakes on the first set of tyres, so I knew I could pull it all together.”

Tan, who is gaining in confidence – and speed – with each outing, was disappointed at losing out on pole but quick to congratulate Tjia:  “Well done to Francis, but I’ll be all over him in the race,” he warned.  While many drivers found last month’s meeting at Inner Mongolia’s Ordos track a challenge, the Dorr McElrea Racing driver credits it with boosting his confidence:  “I think Ordos was one of the first times I’ve been able to get on the throttle earlier and have more car control.”

With both the overall and Class B Porsche Carrera Cup Asia titles wide open, there is everything to race for as the 2012 season embarks on the charge to the finish, and Rounds 7 and 8 promise to be as intense as anything so far seen in the series’ history.

Qualifying – Round 7

*Non series registered

Points after Round 7 Qualifying

Overall

Class B

The first time for Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race (MMER), the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will supporting the race for the first time in its history on this coming weekend for Rounds 7 & 8. The 28-strong field will be part of a high-profile sports car carnival expected to attract an impressive spectator turnout.

Rounds 7 and 8 of the 11-round 2012 season will be held on Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit from August 30 to September 2, 2012, and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia grid will include two Malaysian drivers in the form of series regular Adrian Henry D’Silva of Nexus Racing, and guest driver Azman Yahya at the wheel of the Team Carrera Cup Asia Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racing car, both competing in the category for non-professional racers.

Photo Gallery: Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car – Team Sime Darby Auto Performance