The 2020 TCR China season gets underway this week with a marathon four-race season-opener from August 6 to 9 at the Zhuzhou International Circuit. Two Audi RS 3 LMS are set to roar off the starting line piloted by Yang Xi at Champ Motorsport and Wu Yifan at 326 Racing Team.
“The first rounds of the TCR China season are another positive step in the right direction for Asian motorsport in 2020,” said Alexander Blackie, Manager of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “With four races in total over the extended weekend, our customers have a great chance to not only make a mark on the championship table, but also score major Audi Sport Asia Trophy points for themselves.”
The Audi Sport Asia Trophy rewards customer entries and performances across the region’s series and events in all Audi Sport customer racing machinery. The first Audi RS 3 LMS finisher in each of the four TCR China races this week will earn 375 points and the runner-up 300, for a maximum points haul of 1,500. Yang Xi currently lies 12th in the standings on 325 points, so a strong performance in Zhuzhou could see him make a move for the top spot on the leaderboard currently occupied by Zun Motorsport Crew’s Ma Ka Chun.
Champ Motorsport’s Yang Xi made his mark in regional single-seater competition in the China Formula Grand Prix, where he finished 5th in 2010, Formula Pilota China and the Asian Formula Renault Series. Moving to GT and touring car competition, Yang has competed successfully in the China Touring Car Championship (CTCC), the China GT Championship and the Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup. As well as entering the TCR China series this season, the Chinese driver also contested the opening round of TCR Malaysia in a TeamWork Huff Motorsport Audi RS 3 LMS.
Over at 326 Racing Team, driver Wu Yifan contested the full 2017 Touring Car Masters Challenge driving solo, the 2018 Chinese Racing Cup, and in 2019 competed in rounds the China Endurance Championship.
The 3.77km, FIA Grade 2 circuit in Zhuzhou is Hunan Province’s first international-standard motorsport facility and was completed last year. Part of the Zhuzhou Automobile Expo Park, the track features 14 turns, elevations, and runs counterclockwise. The circuit hosted the final rounds of TCR China in 2019, and the series returns this year for its season-opener.
TCR China Races 1 – 4 (all times UTC+8)
Friday, August 7
12:20-13:00 Qualifying 1
18:15-18:45 Qualifying 2
Saturday, August 8
10:13-10:43 Race 1 (15 laps)
17:19-17:49 Race 2 (15 laps)
Sunday, August 9
10:13-10:43 Race 3 (15 laps)
17:19-17:49 Race 4 (15 laps)
2020 TCR China Provisional Calendar
Round 1 & 2/August 6-9/Zhuzhou International Circuit
Round 3/August 22-23/Ordos International Circuit
Round 4/September 12-13/Shanghai International Circuit
Round 5/September 19-20/Zhejiang International Circuit
Round 6/Oct 31-Nov 1/Zhuhai International Circuit
