Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2011 – Brilliant Victory for Imperatori on Debut
Shanghai, 16 April 2011 – Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champions Team StarChase got their title defence off to a perfect start today when their newly-signed and exciting driver Alexandre IMPERATORI took victory in the opening race of the season. The 23-year-old Shanghai-based Swiss driver beat pole-sitter Keita SAWA of LKM Racing with a margin of three seconds at the end of the 12-lap race. Third was Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo AVILA of Macau.
Class B honours went to Team Kangshun’s Ringo CHONG, who finished ahead of Chinese drivers Anthony LIU and WANG Jian Wei, who were both making their series debuts this weekend.
SAWA made a superb start from pole, charging off the grid and setting about building up a gap. Behind him IMPERATORI, AVILA and Team PCS Racing’s MOK Weng Sun were three abreast, with AVILA stealing a place from his Swiss rival. However, IMPERATORI’s aggressive attempts to reclaim second saw AVILA concede the position.
The Safety Car was called out on the opening lap after Steven CHIAN crashed, closing up the field. Darryl O’YOUNG, who had started from the back of the grid after a qualifying mishap, was already up to 13th by the Safety Car period, during which Philip BRIANDET pulled into the pits and retired.
Racing resumed on lap five, and SAWA got away well, but IMPERATORI was on a charge, closing in on the Japanese ace and grabbing the lead on lap seven with a perfect overtaking move. From there, the newcomer controlled the race to the flag.
However, the drama was not over. A fierce battle between Francis TJIA, Yuey TAN and Jeffrey LEE ended with TAN being nudged into a spin, seeing the talented Singaporean retire.
O’YOUNG crossed the line in 4th after a gargantuan charge from the back of the grid, setting the fastest lap and putting himself on the second row for the start of tomorrow’s race alongside AVILA.
Said IMPERATORI after his maiden victory: “My start was the only bad point. It was my first of the series, so I didn’t want to take any risks. I almost lost second place, but pushed hard to take it back. It was very important to maintain second to be able to chase SAWA. I had to wait during the Safety Car period and keep a cool head. At the re-start, I could see SAWA was struggling with his tyres. It’s great to take the first win in my first race!”
For AVILA, it was obvious that tyres had played a key role out on track: “It’s always good to be on the podium. Alex was on new tyres, which was some advantage. We’ll try again tomorrow on new tyres. It’ll be tough with the four of us at the front tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to a really great race.”
SAWA agreed that tyre strategy was important: “I’m sad I lost first place, but points are most important. We were in good a situation before the Safety Car, but then the tyres went off.”
Team Kangshun’s Ringo CHONG, who is determined to clinch the Class B title this year, got his campaign off to an excellent start: “”Everyone wants to win the first race of the season. It was quite close and Anthony was really coming up behind me. The race was pretty straightforward for me, I followed Mok and then when Darryl came up behind me I let him through because he was faster. However, that’s also where I almost made a big mistake. After I let him through, I saw Anthony coming up right behind me so I put my head down, kept my nose clean and I’m happy to have won the first race.”
Round 2 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will be run tomorrow over 12 laps of the 5.5km Shanghai International Circuit in support of the 2011 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX.
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.
Round 1 – Results
Pos. Comp No. Driver Class Entrant Time
1 99 Alexandre IMPERATORI (SUI) A Team StarChase (CHN) 28:42.442
2 88 Keita SAWA (JPN) A LKM Racing (HKG) 3.000
3 20 Rodolfo AVILA (MAC) A Team Jebsen (HKG) 5.386
4 55 Darryl O’YOUNG (HKG) A LKM Racing (HKG) 12.472
5 33 MOK Weng Sun (SIN) A Team PCS Racing (SIN) 16.067
6 11 Ringo CHONG (SIN) B Team Kangshun (CHN) 18.433
7 37 Anthony LIU (CHN) B Woyo Racing (CHN) 20.493
8 89 Brian WONG (USA) A Absolute Racing (HKG) 21.114
9 9 WANG Jian Wei (CHN) B Team BetterLife (CHN) 24.679
10 16 Wayne SHEN (CAN) B Modena Motorsports (HKG) 25.790
11 7 Jeffrey LEE (TPE) B Team Pauian Archiland Absolute (TPE) 31.119
12 21 Francis TJIA (NED) B OpenRoad Racing (HKG) 32.583
13 28 John SHEN (CAN) B Modena Motorsports (HKG) 60.135
14 15 Keith VONG (MAC) B Asia Racing Team (MAC) 60.263
15 23 Paul TRESIDDER (AUS) B Paul Tresidder (AUS) 60.490
16 66 Rose TAN (CHN) B Team C&D (CHN) 63.890
17 83 Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG) B Asia Racing Team (MAC) 75.179
18 22 Morris KU (HKG) B Team DAYCRAFT (HKG) 79.668
19 68 MAK Hing Tak (HKG) B OMAK (HKG) 86.034
20 77 Jacky YEUNG (HKG) B Jacky Yeung (HKG) 869.008
21 27 Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS) B Nexus Racing (MAS) 91.970
5 Yuey TAN (SIN) B Wimobilize McElrea Racing (SIN) DNF
18 Marcel TJIA (NED) B OpenRoad Racing (HKG) DNF
59 Philip BRIANDET (SIN) B Shift2Neutral Racing (SIN) DNF
36 Seven CHIAN (TPE) B Team Hong Kong Racing (HKG) DNF
Fastest lap: Darryl O’YOUNG/LKM Racing Team/2:08.995/Lap 8/152.126kph
