Sawa Takes Pole for Carrera Cup Asia in Shanghai Season-Opener
Shanghai. LKM Racing’s Keita SAWA took pole position for the opening round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2011 season at the Shanghai International Circuit today, setting the fastest lap of 2:08.712 early on in the 30-minute session this morning.
Defending champions Team StarChase, who are fielding exciting new driver Alexandre IMPERATORI this year, were second quickest, slower by just over one-hundredth of a second off pole position time. Team Jebsen was third fastest on the 5.5km Shanghai track, with driver Rodolfo AVILA, who was slowed by traffic. Team PCS Racing’s MOK Weng Sun will start the race from the second row alongside AVILA, having put in a tremendous qualifying performance.
In Class B it was another Chinese Porsche dealer team that set the fastest lap time, with Singapore’s Ringo CHONG of Team Kangshun clocking 2:10.316. Newcomer Anthony LIU put in an impressive performance on his racing debut to set the second-fastest time in the category, ahead of Mainland China’s WANG Jian Wei of Team BetterLife in third place.
Two-time champion and SAWA’s LKM Racing team mate Darryl O’YOUNG didn’t record a time after locking up under braking on his first lap out, putting his car against the Armco barrier, and unable to rejoin the session. O’YOUNG and Marcel TJIA of OpenRoad Racing, who also spun out early on, will start Round 1 from the back of the grid.
SAWA was pleased to get his season off to a good start: “I was checking my data all night as we weren’t 100% happy with the setting after yesterday’s practice. I’m still not 100% confident, so will work with our engineer on the setup, but I will do my best in the race for my team, sponsors, and for the people of Japan.”
IMPERATORI, who is making his GT debut this weekend, is still finding the limits and missed out on practice yesterday with a technical problem: “I’m still getting used to the car and I wasn’t able to extract the best from the tyres. But I could still feel we had a chance. This is my first time in Shanghai in a GT, so I need to find my markers, and the challenge today is to find the balance.”
Ringo CHONG, who was runner up in the Class B championship last year, was already enjoying being part of this year’s bumper field: “It’s great this year. A lot of the drivers, especially the young ones, are quite fast, which is a good thing. It’s life that as you get older you realize that the young drivers are getting faster, so I’m going to have to work harder!”
After his first ever qualifying session, Anthony LIU was still left wanting more: “I still wanted to find another two tenths. I think I can do it in the race. This is my first race – does PlayStation count?”
Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close co-operation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group.
The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian based Motorsport Asia Ltd.
Rounds 1 & 2 – Qualifying
Pos. Comp No. Driver Class Entrant Time
1 88 Keita SAWA (JPN) A LKM Racing (HKG) 2:08.712
2 99 Alexandre IMPERATORI (SUI) A Team StarChase (CHN) 2:08.723
3 20 Rodolfo AVILA (MAC) A Team Jebsen (HKG) 2:09.042
4 33 MOK Weng Sun (SIN) A Team PCS Racing (SIN) 2:09.605
5 11 Ringo CHONG (SIN) B Team Kangshun (CHN) 2:10.316
6 37 Anthony LIU (CHN) B Woyo Racing (CHN) 2:10.475
7 9 WANG Jian Wei (CHN) B Team BetterLife (CHN) 2:10.558
8 7 Jeffrey LEE (TPE) B Team Pauian Archiland Absolute (TPE) 2:10.606
9 5 Yuey TAN (SIN) B Wimobilize McElrea Racing (SIN) 2:10.718
10 16 Wayne SHEN (CAN) B Modena Motorsports (HKG) 2:11.100
11 21 Francis TJIA (NED) B OpenRoad Racing (HKG) 2:11.225
12 89 Brian WONG (USA) A Absolute Racing (HKG) 2:11.422
13 59 Philip BRIANDET (SIN) B Shift2Neutral Racing (SIN) 2:12.985
14 68 MAK Hing Tak (HKG) B OMAK (HKG) 2:13.216
15 15 Keith VONG (MAC) B Asia Racing Team (MAC) 2:13.410
16 36 Seven CHIAN (TPE) B Team Hong Kong Racing (HKG) 2:13.419
17 83 Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG) B Asia Racing Team (MAC) 2:13.544
18 23 Paul TRESIDDER (AUS) B Paul Tresidder (AUS) 2:13.923
19 66 Rose TAN (CHN) B Team C&D (CHN) 2:14.629
20 28 John SHEN (CAN) B Modena Motorsports (HKG) 2:15.924
21 22 Morris KU (HKG) B Team DAYCRAFT (HKG) 2:16.550
22 27 Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS) B Nexus Racing (MAS) 2:17.653
23 77 Jacky YEUNG (HKG) B Jacky Yeung (HKG) 2:19.597
24 55 Darryl O’YOUNG (HKG) A LKM Racing (HKG) –
25 18 Marcel TJIA (NED) B OpenRoad Racing (HKG) –
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2011
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Stronger, wider, faster, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup – the best selling race car in the world – was introduced in 2010. Based for the first time on the light-weight road-going version of the 911 GT3 RS, the body corresponds largely to the standard model, with Porsche modifying the aerodynamics for racing. The front spoiler lip has been lowered 15 millimetres, providing significantly more downforce. Rear downforce has also increased with the rear wing growing from 1.46 to 1.70 metres and fitted higher up as a feature taken from the even stronger 911 GT3 Cup S.
The engine is largely identical to the production unit in the 911 GT3 RS: with capacity up from 3.6 litres to 3.8 litres, the six-cylinder motor delivers 30 hp more than its predecessor. The power output is 450 bhp, with a maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.
The racing exhaust features a fully controlled catalytic converter. Via a ZF Sachs race clutch, a sequential six-speed dog-type gearbox and a limited slip differential, the engine power is transmitted to the rear axle.
With the rear body 44-millimetres broader than standard, there is sufficient space for wider wheels. The front axle comes with three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18). The three-piece light-alloy rims on the rear axle grew an inch to 12 J x 18.
Anti-roll bars front and rear, now adjustable to seven different positions, allow an even more precise set-up. The camber, track, ride height, and rear wing can be adjusted within the regulations.
