Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Rounds 1 and 2, Shanghai International Circuit, April 13-15, 2012

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will mark the start of its 10th season with the biggest grid in its history as it supports the 2012 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX this weekend.  Twenty-eight stunning Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars, driven by a spectacular line-up of international professionals and exciting newcomers, will roar off the grid for the start of the six-stop season.
Following a pre-season test at China’s Zhuhai International Circuit last month, lap times would indicate a close-run battle from the start.  Reigning champion, LKM Racing Team’s Keita Sawa of Japan, will face a fierce challenge to his title from the likes of Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila, one point behind Sawa at the end of last season, PICC Team StarChase ace Alexandre Imperatori, Chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung making his GT debut in the Budweiser Team StarChase car, and experienced Porsche driver Austrian Martin Ragginger, entered by one of three new Chinese Porsche dealer team entries, Team Eagle – Jiejun & Junbaojie.
Also expected to make strong debuts are Frenchman Benjamin Rouget with new Team Yongda Dongfang and China’s Zhang Da Sheng with Team Basetex, who at just 19 years of age is the youngest driver in the field. In addition, at the wheel of the Team Carrera Cup Asia car, Dane Allan Simonsen will contest the two Shanghai season-openers.  Team BetterLife’s Wang Jian Wei, reigning Class B Champion, joins Team Kangshun’s Ringo Chong of Singapore and the series only lady driver, Rose Tan of Team C&D in the chase for the overall title.
Twelve nations and territories are represented amongst the truly international field, and the high-profile opening rounds represent a valuable chance for young Chinese and Asian talent to shine on the world stage. 
As it strengthens its position as the premier international sportscar championship in Asia, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia continues to attract both exciting new talent as well as increasing commercial support, with Budweiser joining as a new partner from 2012. Qualifying and Round 1 of the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will be held on Saturday, April 14. Round 2, where the top eight finishers in the first race will be reversed on the grid, will be held on Sunday prior to the 2012 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX. 
With a record grid and the best line-up of drivers ever assembled for a regional championship, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia begins its 10th season is spectacular fashion.
Rounds 1 & 2 – Provisional Entry List
No.1/Keita SAWA (JPN)/LKM Racing Team
No. 3/*Allan SIMONSEN (DNK)/Team Carrera Cup Asia
No. 5/Yuey TAN (SIN)/B/McElrea Racing
No. 6/ZHENG Ting (CHN)/B/BBT
No. 8/Benjamin ROUGET (FRA)/Team Yongda Dongfang
No. 9/WANG Jian Wei (CHN)/Team Betterlife
No. 11/Ringo CHONG (SIN)/Team Kangshun
No. 16/Wayne SHEN (HKG)/B/Modena Motorsport
No. 18/Marcel TJIA (HKG)/B/OpenRoad-ART Motorsports
No. 20/Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)/Team Jebsen
No. 21/Francis TJIA (HKG)/B/OpenRoad Racing
No. 23/Paul TRESIDDER (AUS)/B/Hewlett Motorsport
No. 25/Christian CHIA (CAN)/B/OpenRoad-ART Motorsports
No. 27/Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS)/B/Nexus Racing
No. 28/John SHEN (HKG)/B/Modena Motorsports
No. 31/*Patrice BONZOM (CHN)/B/PS Racing
No. 37/*Anthony LIU (CHN)/B/BBT
No. 55/REN Wei (CHN)/B/PS Racing
No. 66/Rose TAN (CHN)/Team C&D
No. 68/MAK Hing Tak (HKG)/B/OMAK
No. 78/ZHANG Da Sheng (CHN)/Team Basetex
No. 81/HUANG Chu Han (CHN)/B/Hede
No. 83/Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG)/B/Dr. Ma Chi Min
No. 86/Martin RAGGINGER (AUT)/Team Eagle – Jiejun & Junbaojie
No. 88/Egidio PERFETTI (SUI)/B/Seminole Racing Team
No. 96/LI Chao (CHN)/B/Asia Racing Team/Team JR
No. 98/Ho-Pin TUNG (CHN)/Budweiser Team StarChase
No. 99/Alexandre IMPERATORI (HKG)/PICC Team StarChase