Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Round 2, Bamber Wins

LKM Racing’s Earl Bamber took a thunderous victory in Round 2 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia today, held as part of this weekend’s Chinese F1 Grand Prix, charging ahead of the battling field to cross the line more than six seconds ahead of Porsche Holding’s Martin Ragginger who drove a thunderous race from fifth on the grid after a puncture in qualifying.

Third across the line after one of the most eventful and exciting races in the series’ 12-year history was PICC Team StarChase driver Alexandre Imperatori followed by China’s Tung Ho-Pin of Budweiser Team Absolute Racing.

The fight for the Class B win was just as enthralling, with Dorr Havelock Racing’s Yuey Tan taking a superb victory, fending off a final late challenge from Clearwater Racing’s Mok Weng Sun. Third in the class was Round 1 winner and category pole-sitter Alif Hamdan of Nexus Racing who did well to climb back through the field after a spin on lap four dropped him down the order.

As the 28-strong field thundered away from the grid throwing up a spectacular spray as the rain pounded down, Bamber got a brilliant getaway and immediately set about pulling away from the chasing pack. Tung stormed past Imperatori into second while Ragginger stole the march on Mentos Racing’s Egidio Perfetti, but the positions were not to hold. In what was a frenetic opening lap, Imperatori reclaimed his place from Tung, and Ragginger ran wide, handing fourth temporarily back to Perfetti. Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila was in the mix too, and as the cars crossed the line at the end of the opening lap it was Bamber out front leading Imperatori, Tung, Ragginger, Perfetti and Avila, with Hamdan heading the Class B pack in seventh overall.

Ragginger was a man on a mission, challenging Tung, while further back Zheng Tong Auto’s Zhang Da Sheng was piling the pressure onto Hamdan, while Avila dropped back down the order, making a successful move on Zhang before running wide. Ragginger was taking no prisoners, passing Tung and then moving up to second after Imperatori ran wide.

Hamdan’s spin saw him drop down the field, giving the category lead to Wayne Shen followed by Mok and Tan. Mok then piled on the pressure to Shen, the latter finally caving in and running wide, rejoining behind Hamdan. Mok himself then became the target, Tan sniffing victory and taking the lead on lap eight. Three of the four China Junior Development Programme drivers were, as in Malaysia, evenly matched, with Zhang Da Sheng losing a couple of positions at the start, and Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang of Team C&D leading the trio an impressive sixth overall until Zhang Da Sheng got by in a spectacular maneuver in the closing stages of the race. Zhang Da Sheng then took the fight to Perfetti on the final lap, pressuring the reigning Class B champion into making an error with the chequered flag in sight.

Race finished early for Team Synsanly’s Bao Jin Long after he ran into Team Betterlife’s Li Chao, Team Yongda Dongfang’s Ro. C. Skyangel stopped with technical problems, and Bentley’s Yeung of Tiger Racing Team fell victim to the treacherous track conditions.

After one of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia’s most thrilling races, showcasing the depth of talent, skill and experience throughout the field, all eyes will be on Round 3 held just prior to the start of China’s most prestigious race, the Chinese F1 Grand Prix.

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Round 2 Provisional Results

Fastest Lap: Earl Bamber/LKM Racing/2:22.021/Lap 2/138.173kph