Tianshi Racing Team’s David Chen made Audi R8 LMS Cup history in the penultimate round of the 2017 season by becoming the first Am+ driver to take an overall victory. The 21-year-old Chinese ace, who joined the Cup from Round 3, also wrapped up the Am+ title with his fifth class win in seven races on the 3.191km Zhejiang International Circuit.
Following a multi-car incident at the start, which took out three of the four top qualifiers, Chen withstood a ferocious challenge from second place finisher, Shaun Thong of the Audi TEDA Racing Team to take the overall victory. Malaysia’s Alex Yoong in the Audi R8 LMS Cup car took third after OD Racing Team’s Mitch Gilbert, third over the line having staged an impressive recovery from the early incident, was handed a post-race penalty.
Thailand’s Bhurit Bhirombhakdi wrapped up the Am Cup honours even before the lights went out at the start of the 18-lap race, having earlier taken the class pole position and the title-clinching point that went with it. The Singha Plan-B Motorsport driver took the Am race win ahead of Sun Jingzu of Milestone Racing, who finishes the season second in the category.
With newly-crowned champion Alessio Picariello of MGT by Absolute taking the 2017 overall title in Shanghai last month, the race for the overall 2017 Audi R8 LMS Cup runner-up position will go down to the wire in the season-closing Round 10, with four drivers still in contention. FAW-VW Audi Racing Team’s Cheng Congfu, who finished Round 9 in fifth, leads the way on 117 points, while official Audi R8 LMS Cup driver Alex Yoong is four points behind (113). Thong (109) and Gilbert (108) are still very in contention, with 26 points on offer in Round 10.
“Our congratulations to David Chen and the Tianshi Racing Team on making Audi R8 LMS Cup history and also taking the 2017 Am+ Cup, particularly on the Cup’s debut at David’s home circuit,” said Martin Kuehl, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “David has been a revelation this season, and his overall victory in Round 9 vividly illustrates how newcomers can develop within the Cup. We are looking forward to Round 10 when the overall runner-up will be decided after a four-way battle.”
