Motorsport News: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Round 1 - First blood to Imperatori as Ringo takes Class B win

Team Kangshun’s Ringo Chong took the Class B win, ahead of Chinese drivers Anthony Liu and Wang Jian Wei, both making their series debuts this weekend.

Sawa made a superb start from pole, charging off the grid and setting about building up a gap. Behind him Imperatori, Avila and Team PCS Racing’s Mok Weng Sun were three abreast, with Avila stealing the march on his Swiss rival. However, Imperatori’s robust attempts to reclaim second saw Avila concede the position.

The Safety Car was called out on the opening lap after Steven Chian crashed, closing up the field. Darryl O’Young, who had started from the back of the grid after a qualifying mishap, was already up to 13th by the Safety Car period, during which Philip Briandet pulled into the pits and retired.

Racing resumed on lap five, and Sawa got away well, but Imperatori was on a charge, closing in on the Japanese ace and grabbing the lead on lap seven with a perfect overtaking move. From there, the newcomer controlled the race to the flag.

However, the drama was not over. A fierce battle between Francis Tjia, Yuey Tan and Jeffrey Lee ended with Tan being nudged into a spin, seeing the talented Singaporean retire.

O’Young crossed the line in 4th after a gargantuan charge from the back of the grid, setting the fastest lap and putting himself on the second row for the start of tomorrow’s race alongside Avila.


Said Imperatori after his maiden sportscar victory: “My start was the only bad point. It was my first of the series, so I didn’t want to take any risks. I almost lost second place, but pushed hard to take it back. It was very important to maintain second to be able to chase Sawa. I had to wait during the Safety Car period and keep a cool head. At the re-start, I could see SAWA was struggling with his tyres. It’s great to take the first win in my first race!”

For Avila, it was obvious that tyres had played a key role out on track: “It’s always good to be on the podium. Alex was on new tyres, which was some advantage. We’ll try again tomorrow on new tyres. It’ll be tough with the four of us at the front tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to a really great race.”

Sawa agreed that tyre strategy was important: “I’m sad I lost first place, but points are most important. We were in good a situation before the Safety Car, but then the tyres went off.”

Team Kangshun’s Ringo Chong, who is determined to clinch the Class B title this year, got his campaign off to an excellent start: “"Everyone wants to win the first race of the season. It was quite close and Anthony was really coming up behind me. The race was pretty straightforward for me, I followed Mok and then when Darryl came up behind me I let him through because he was faster. However, that's also where I almost made a big mistake. After I let him through, I saw Anthony coming up right behind me so I put my head down, kept my nose clean and I'm happy to have won the first race."

Round 2 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will be run tomorrow over 12 laps of the 5.5km Shanghai International Circuit in support of the 2011 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX.

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