Malaysian Afiq Yazid of Meritus GP, 21, took his third 2013 Formula Masters China Series (FMCS) victory yesterday in Race 7 at the Ordos International Circuit in Inner Mongolia. Fellow Malaysian and pole-sitter Akash Nandy, 16, of Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG finished second, with Indian Raj Bharath, 18, of Meco Motorsport rounding out the podium. Thailand’s Tanart Sathienthirakul, 20, of Eurasia Motorsport finished fourth in his FMCS debut, while Japan’s Ren Nagabuchi, 19, of Super License drove his way through the field, after a technical problem forced him to miss out both of yesterday’s qualifying sessions, to finish fifth.
Yazid’s win on the 3.715km circuit has helped him extend his lead in the 2013 FMCS Drivers Classification to 13 points ahead of Bharath. Australian Aidan Wright, 18, of Meritus GP is a further seven points adrift following his sixth-place finish. Nandy, 16, remains in fourth place, with Nagabuchi fifth. Fastest Chinese driver in the first race was Star Racing Team’s Yuan Bo, who has moved into the lead in the Chinese Drivers Classification, four points ahead of Eurasia Motorsport’s Pu Jun Jin. Meritus GP have strengthened their lead in the Team Classification, with KCMG moving into second position.
After a lengthy delay due to track repairs, the race started under Safety Car conditions and on the second lap racing got underway. Nandy got away cleanly, but Yazid was hot on his heels. Yazid piled on the pressure and Nandy was forced to defend the position. On lap three, Yazid saw an opportunity to overtake for the lead on the final corner and took the inside line and made his way through. Yazid continued to push through the remainder of the race, setting the fastest lap of the race on his final lap, to win by a 3.156 second margin. The Safety Car was called out again after Star Racing Team’s Zou Chen Yu spun at turn 16, but a lap later racing once again got underway and Yazid held strong. Meanwhile, further down the field, Nagabuchi put his head down and worked his way through the field. He moved into sixth, before securing fifth position in the closing laps of the race.
Races 8 & 9 of the 2013 Formula Masters China Series will take place today, Sunday, July 7 at Inner Mongolia’s Ordos International Circuit.
