Sunday, 19 May 2013
Ferrari out to maintain winning streak at GT Asia Rounds 3 & 4
Friday, 08 June 2012 01:17    PDF Print E-mail

After two sensational rounds in the GT Asia Series Season Opener, the Ferrari F458 GT3’s of Team Clearwater Racing are set to maintain their winning streak at Rounds 3 & 4 at Sepang Circuit this weekend.

 

 

 

Mok Weng Sun and Hiroshi Hamaguchi claimed one win each over fierce competitors Li Zhi Cong in Asia Racing Team’s Porsche 997 GT3R and the duo of Marchy Lee and Jeffrey Lee in their Audi R8 LMS Ultra. Spectators can expect another great battle between the marquees with a few Lamborghini’s and Ford’s thrown in the mix.

 

Despite not being able to reach the top step of the podium, Audi R8 LMS Cup driver, Marchy Lee heads the driver’s Championship Points Table with a total of 31 points, just one point ahead of his driver partner Jeffrey Lee, who shares second with China’s Li Zhi Cong. Marchy received a one point advantage when he claimed pole position in the Season Opening race.

 

Round 1 winner and the reigning GT Asia Series Champion, Mok, lies fourth on the points table, two points ahead of Round 2 winner, Hamaguchi. Japanese driver Keita Sawa, who was sharing driving duties with Team Clearwater Racing’s David Lai, currently lies ahead of his Singaporean teammate on the leader-board in sixth, with a one point advantage gained from his Round 2 pole position. Lai shares seventh spot with Craft Eurasia Racing’s, Frank Yu. 

 

The second Ford GT3 driver, Samson Chan is just one point shy of his teammate and is currently ninth with Hisao Shigeta (Direction Racing/Porsche 997 GT3 R) and Billy Fung (Arrows Racing/Lamborghini LP600 GT3) right behind him.

 

Meanwhile Siu Yuk Lung, who made a switch to the GTM class this season, when he changed from the Lamborghini to the Porsche 997 Cup 3.8, is currently first in the GTM class and twelfth overall. He shares the spot with GT3 driver and 2010 GT3 Asia Champion, Dilantha Malagamuwa, who has had a troubled start to the season so far in his Lamborghini LP560. Malagamuwa’s best result was an eighth placed finish in Round 1, while engine woes caused him to back out in Round2 with a DNF.

 

Siu will have to maintain a steady pace this weekend as his closest rivals are not too far behind him in pace, and in points with Steven Chian just two points behind whilst Jacky Yeung in Arrows Racing’s Lamborghini Gallardo GT a further two points adrift.

 

Francis Hideki Onda had a troubled start to the season with his Ferrari F430. Onda and his team Craft Eurasia Racing team are confident that they will be able to make up for the lost points this weekend. 

 

There are a few changes to the driver line-up with a few additions including Indonesian driver, Bob Irawan with his Ferrari F458 Challenge in the GT3 Class. He will share driving duties with Andrea Garbagnati, driving for the Ferrari Owner’s Club Indonesia.

 

Meanwhile, there are three new entries in the GTM class with the addition of two Porsche 997 Cup 3.8’s and one Ferrari F430. Chinese Taipei driver, Chian, who entered Round 1 with Arrows Racing and winning Round 1 in his Class, will this time be sharing driving duties with Porsche Carrera Cup Asia regular, Philip Ma of Hong Kong.

 

The other Porsche will be driven by GT Asia Series regular, Canadian Shim Ching who will mark his return to the Series this weekend. Young and enthusiastic driver, Eric Lo from Hong Kong will take the wheel of the Ferrari F430.

 

The GT Asia Series will begin this weekend with Qualifying Session 1 held Friday, 8 June at 2.30pm (local time) and Qualifying Session 2 at 2.55pm. Round 3 of the GT Asia Series is scheduled for Saturday, 9 June at 2.20pm followed by Round 4 on Sunday, 10 June 2012 at 1.10pm.

 

The Series will then pack up for the first of three Japanese weekends beginning with Fuji from 13-15 July 2012, before heading to Suzuka in August and to Autopolis in October. The Season Finale for the 2012 GT Asia Series will be held as part of the Macau GP in November.

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