Reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Christian Menzel of Team StarChase threw down the gauntlet today to his fellow 22 competitors with a scorching, pole- setting qualifying lap of 2:07.725 at the 5.5km Shanghai International Circuit.The German was the only driver to lap in less than two minutes, 8 seconds, with the second fastest on track two-time champion Darryl O’Young of Hong Kong. The LKM Racing driver will line up alongside Menzel for the start of the opening round of the 2010 season. The second row will see Red Bull Racing’s Marchy Lee of Hong Kong line up alongside Team PCS Racing’s Craig Baird.
Quickest in the Class B category, for non-professional drivers, was Singapore’s Mok Weng Sun of Team PCS Racing, with an impressive lap of 2:09.605. Mok will line up next to Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila of Class A for the start of the first 12 lap race.
Team Kangshun’s Ringo Chong was second fastest by the end of the session, with series newcomer Francis Tjia of OpenRoad Racing third.
Round 1 Qualifying
Pos.
Comp No.
Driver
Cls
Entrant
Time
1
99
Christian MENZEL (GER)
A
Team StarChase (CHN)
2:07.725
2
55
Darryl O’YOUNG (HKG)
A
LKM Racing (HKG)
+0.292
3
38
Marchy LEE (HKG)
A
Red Bull Racing (HKG)
+0.852
4
32
Craig BAIRD (NZL)
A
Team PCS Racing (SIN)
+1.237
5
20
Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)
A
Team Jebsen (HKG)
+1.550
6
33
MOK Weng Sun (SIN)
B
Team PCS Racing (SIN)
+1.880
7
11
Ringo CHONG (SIN)
B
Team Kangshun (CHN)
+3.061
8
21
Francis TJIA (HKG)
B
OpenRoad Racing (HKG)
+3.527
9
5
Yuey TAN Yuhian (SIN)
B
Wimobilize McElrea Racing Team (SIN)
+4.297
10
25
Christian CHIA (CAN)
B
OpenRoad Racing (HKG)
+4.370