Martin Rump of Champion Racing Team will start from pole in Round 1 of the 2016 Audi R8 LMS Cup after clocking the fastest time in Saturday’s Superpole shootout. Joining Rump on the front row at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday is KCMG’s Yuichi Nakayama.
Rahel Frey of Castrol Racing Team was third quickest in the session ahead of Belgian driver Alessio Picariello of MGT Team by Absolute.
With Rump, Nakayama and Picariello, three of the top four drivers are young, new series additions, shaking up the order.
Defending champion Alex Yoong and 2015 season runner-up Cheng Congfu will be starting from eighth and tenth on the grid respectively after a difficult day in wet conditions.
“The new additions have proved their strength and really made a difference,” said Rene Koneberg, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “We are delighted to have such a competitive line-up with a large collection of young talent.”
Audi Sport TT Cup 2015 champion Jan Kisiel qualified in seventh, further proving the credentials of the Cup’s new young drivers. In addition, the qualifying sessions saw 16-year old Cup debutante Jasper Thong from Hong Kong become the youngest driver in Audi R8 LMS Cup history.
