Motorsports News: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia title to Menzel

Team StarChase driver Christian Menzel took the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship today by just a single point from Round 13 winner Tim Sugden of Britain. Menzel, who started the 20-lap race with a three point advantage over Sugden, crossed the line second which was enough to clinch the title at his second time of trying.

The final podium place of the last round of the season was taken by Asia Racing Team’s Rodolfo Avila of Macau, who put in a brilliant performance to catch the front-runners after a less-than-perfect start.

Pole sitter, Team Jebsen’s Darryl O’Young, crossed the line fourth, putting him third in the championship, ahead of Avila and Dutchman Danny Chu.

Hong Kong’s Philip Ma took the Class B championship after a season-long battle with on-track rival and winner of the final race, Melvin Choo. Like Menzel, Ma’s second place finish in the final round clinched the title, with a margin of 13 points. Third in the race was Singapore’s Yuey Tan, who finished his first full Porsche
Carrera Cup Asia season with a hard-fought podium place and third in the Class B standings ahead of Hong Kong’s Mak Hing Tak, also in his first full season.

Team PCS Racing’s Mok Weng Sun rounded out an excellent weekend with a 5th place finish, ahead of Dutchman Danny Chu, while Jeffrey Lee of Team PTRS Motorsport was 9th overall.

Off the start, O’Young lost the lead to Sugden going in to turn one. Behind him, Menzel was on a charge to the championship win that was nothing short of fast and furious.

For a while O’Young and Menzel were engaged in their own fight, leaving Sugden to pull away at the front, but the Briton’s comfort zone was soon shattered when he saw the German overtake O’Young to go second at turn one on lap three.

The three were evenly matched for several laps, before O’Young eased off with an engine overheat warning. Menzel then closed in on his pray, lights flashing. Sugden wasn’t rattled however, and, knowing he needed a car between him and Menzel, just prayed for someone to catch the German.

Mid-way through the 20-lap race, while Menzel was dancing all over the back of Sugden and O’Young was keeping up with the pair, Macau’s Avila suddenly charged into view, joining the fray having taken full advantage of the pitch battle at the sharp end to close in.

Now four cars were in the final race to the finish, in what was a truly thrilling season finale.

Avila took the fight to O’Young, passing the reigning champion. The Team Jebsen ace wasn’t going to give up the final podium place easily, but a spin on lap 18 saw his chances dashed.

Try as he might, Avila couldn’t get close enough to Menzel to put himself between Sugden and the StarChase driver in the final dash to the finish. While Sugden could console himself with the final victory of the season, it was Menzel who was crowned the new Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion.

Said Menzel, who set the fastest lap of the race: “It’s a good feeling – absolutely fantastic. I lost a minimum of 50 kilos this weekend. Tim did a good job, he was fighting very hard.” He also thanked his team and sponsors, and admitted it hadn’t been an easy task clinching his first Asian championship title: “I was surprised how competitive it is in Asia. Also, all the circuits were completely new to me. You need a year before you can be really competitive.”

He also admitted that the 10 second penalty handed to him after Round 12 by race officials had given him added fire: “I have to say ‘thank you’. It was good motivation!”

Sugden was gracious – and even humorous – in defeat: “I’m only from Leeds, but even I can work out the numbers, and I knew I needed Darryl or Rodolfo between us!” he said. “It was the race it needed to be. I was pleased to make a good start, and when Darryl went second I thought ‘that’ll do’. Then Christian got by somehow and
then it was a case of what do I do? I watched in the mirrors to see what was happening, hoping one of the guys could find a way past Christian.”

It was not to be, and he admitted to being disappointed: “I’m sick to lose the championship by one point, but it wasn’t lost today. Christian deserves to win the championship – over the season, he did a better job.”

For Avila, who hopes to return to the series next season, it was a positive end to what has been an impressive debut by the young Macau racer: “It’s a great series,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to win or get podiums, especially against drivers like Christian, Tim and Darryl who have tons more experience than me and are top European racers. It was very good and I’m quite happy with my season.”

Choo joined the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia family in congratulating Ma on a well-deserved Class B championship victory: “If anyone deserves to win, he does. He drove well during the season. It’s my fault for skipping some races, but that’s life.” Choo also had praise for Sugden, who has been coaching him and with whom he credits his increased confidence on track.

For Ma, it was a successful end to a long season: “It’s nice to win the championship finally,” he said. “This trophy will be a good addition to my collection. Racing is my passion, and I’m already looking forward to next season.”

With a thrilling conclusion to the 2009 season, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will begin preparations for its eighth season, with a 12-race, seven-city calendar, a stunning new racing Porsche which, for the first time, is based on the street-legal 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and new regulations which allow for the entry of private teams.

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