It was a perfect day for team KINGS in round three of the China GT Championship, with the team recording wins in both the GT3 and GT4 races. Defending series champion Xu Jia claimed his second win of the season behind the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS GT3, this time alongside series debutant Mitch Gilbert. KINGS’ GT3 triumph came hot-on-the-heels of an eye-catching Audi R8 LMS GT4 win for the team’s Naomi Zhang and Martin Rump on the car’s first ever race in China.
“KINGS made history today, recording the first victory for the Audi R8 LMS GT4 in China on the car’s debut in the country. Congrats to the team for their perfect double in Zhejiang,” said Martin Kuehl, Director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia.
Crossing the line in second in the GT3 race was David Chen and Michael Choy of Tianshi Racing Team (TSRT) who lost out in a dramatic late-race battle for victory between Audi Sport customer teams.
Chen and Choy’s second place sees them lead the GT3 championship on 61 points ahead of Sunday’s round four. Second in the standings is Xu on 50 points, closely followed by KINGS teammate Wang Liang, who sits third on 49 points, rounding out an all-Audi top three.
In the GT Asia Series, taking place concurrently at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand, Absolute Racing’s Sun Jingzu and Cheng Congfu emerged from a bruising round three in second place. The race in Thailand’s north-eastern Isaan province saw a number of retirements in the 22-car field, including Bhurit Bhirombhakdi and Kantasak Kusiri of Singha Plan-B by Absolute Racing and B-Quik Racing’s Rahel Frey and Daniel Bilski.
In the region’s third big event across the same weekend – the Super Taikyu Series’ showpiece event – the 24 Hours of Fuji, Phoenix Racing Asia faced an early set-back, with the number 82 entry of Alex Yoong, Shaun Thong, Alex Au and Philip Ellis unable to continue after contact with a competitor at the 30-minute mark. The team’s remaining two Audi R8 LMS GT3s are well placed in the top five heading into the night at the foot of Japan’s tallest mountain.
