PICC Team StarChase star Alexandre Imperatori converted his pole position into an emphatic win in the opening round of the 2012 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season today. By the chequered flag, the 24-year-old Swiss driver had managed to build an impressive gap of 7.754 seconds from runner-up Martin Ragginger of Team Eagle- Jiejun & Junbaojie. Third across the line after 12 laps was Allan Simonsen in the Team Carrera Cup Asia car.
In Class B, Anthony Liu of China took the season’s first win for BBT, while Egidio Perfetti continuing his impressive debut with a podium in his first outing with the series, despite a spin four turns from the flag. Wayne Shen finished third for Modena Motorsports. However, it will be all change for Round 2 tomorrow, with the top eight finishers reversed on the grid. The new rule will see Budweiser Team StarChase driver Tung Ho-Pin on pole, with Liu alongside. Imperatori and Ragginger will make up the fourth row. Imperatori’s opening victory gave his team a crucial confidence boost ahead of what he believes will be a tough season, but warned he expects his trouble-free run to the flag to be the exception rather than the rule: “I didn’t get a great start, but it was enough to stay in front. I focused on being quick right from the start and building up a gap. This is a great boost for the team, particularly as it’s a whole new ball game this season. However, this is by no means a sign of what is to come, and we just don’t know what to expect tomorrow with the reverse grid.”
As the lights went out for the start of the 10th Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season, running as part of the 2012 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX this weekend, Imperatori got away well to lead the largest and most competitive field in the series’ history. However, Simonsen was away like lightning from the third row, diving outside Sawa, then into the inside of Avila to go third.
The opening lap was drama-filled with Sawa diving past Avila to go fourth, and John Shen running in to Team C&D lady driver Rose Tan. Meanwhile, a fierce, race-long battle was ensuing between reigning Class B champion, Wang Jian Wei of Team Betterlife, impressive newcomer Huang Chu Han who, before Friday had never driven the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and Zhang Da Sheng of Team Basetex. The Chinese trio had the crowds on their feet as they fought for position lap after lap.
Huang spun out on lap 10, but it was nevertheless and impressive debut. Back at the front of the pack, Sawa claimed a place briefly from Simonsen and, as the Dane charged back to reclaim third, Avila seized the momentum to get by the Japanese driver. With Simonsen determined to hold on to the final podium place, the three were nose-to-tail. Behind the leaders, Liu got by Budweiser Team StarChase driver Tung Ho-pin to go seventh overall behind Team Yongda Dongfang driver Benjamin Rouget of France. Lap six saw Avila make a move on Simonsen, the Dane once again reclaiming his position, and a lap later a move by Sawa saw the Macau driver demoted to fifth. The Class B action when all the way to the flag with Wayne Shen challenging Francis Tjia for the final podium place in the closing stages. His place was assured when Tjia spun, rejoining further down the order and crossing the line fourth in the category for OpenRoad Racing.
