Jason Zhang leads TCR China after Zhuzhou’s season opener
Hyundai N’s 2023 champion Martin Cao Hong Wei and Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport’s 2021 champion Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang won the opening two races of TCR China at Zhuzhou. Thanks to his third position in Race 1, Zhang has taken an early lead in the standings, three points clear of Cao.
Liu Zi Chen of 326 Racing Team won both races of the new TCR China Challenge, emerging as the early points leader.
Race 1 – Martin Xie Xin Zhe had posted the fastest qualifying lap of 1:43.002 in his MacPro Racing Honda Civic, beating Cao’s Hyundai Elantra and Wu Yi Fan’s Audi by 112 and 180 thousandths respectively. The race started under pouring rain and Xie didn’t get away well, while Cao assumed the lead which he would keep until the end.
Andy Yan Cheuk Wai locked up into the first corner and hit Hyundai N teammate Rainey He Xiao Le who was retired with a broken front-left wheel. The race was then run behind the safety car due to the conditions until lap eight. At the restart, Xie went wide before the straight, giving Cao an easy lead; Xie was soon passed by both Wu Yi Fan and Zhang. Xie continued to drop as he was passed by David Zhu Dai Wei and Sunny Wong Yat Shing before the race was red-flagged when the second MacPro Racing Honda of Henry Ho Wai Kun went off at T10 on lap 12.
Race 2 – Lo Sze Ho was on pole in his Evolve Racing Hyundai, but it was Sunny Wong who got the better start and took the lead into T1. Lo was quickly losing ground, passed by Andy Yan and Juan Carlos Zhu Hu An. The latter handed third to teammate Zhang, who quickly closed on Yan, passing him for second at T3 on the next lap. A lap later, Zhu attempted to pass Yan at T3, but they made contact. Yan lost the position to Zhu, who was later given a five-second penalty.
Zhang caught up with Wong who let his teammate through for the lead on lap 4 before the safety car was called on lap 7 when the Audi of Zhao Di was left stranded at T3 following an incident with Ho. At the restart, Zhu passed Wong for second and went about trying to build a gap to subvert his penalty, but Wong was soon under attack from Yan. While he blocked the attack of Yan at T11, this allowed Xie past the pair of them and up to third. With two laps to go, Wong was shuffled back further as he was passed by teammate David Zhu and Cao, with Yan grabbing sixth from him on the final lap. Zhang went on to win comfortably and Juan Carlos Zhu secured second despite the time penalty, having built enough of a gap to Xie.
TCR China Challenge – Liu Zi Chen dominated a wet Race 1 from the pole position; after a poor start, he took the lead from Zhu Yan during the first lap and pulled away. Zhu and Paul Poon Tak Chun completed the podium. The race was neutralized by the safety car from lap 4 to 6, after Pan Yi Ming crashed at T1 in the attempt to pass Zhu for second.
Liu encored in Race 2 that had been led by Li Ka Hei since the start. Liu recovered from P10 on the reversed grid and after a mistake in lap 10 he eventually took the lead from Li in lap 13. Li Ka Hei then dropped behind Li Guang Hua who finished second but was able to retain the third position beating Liu Hong Zhi in the sprint to the line.
The next event of both series will be on 7/9 June at Shanghai International Circuit.
Zhuzhou – Race 1
- Martin Cao Hong Wei (Hyundai N, Hyundai Elantra N), 11 laps
- Wu Yi Fan (326 Racing Team, Audi RS 3 LMS), 1.175
- Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 1.818
Zhuzhou – Race 2
- Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 17 laps
- Juan Carlos Zhu Hu An (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 5.461
- Martin Xie Xin Zhe (MacPro Racing, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 13.936
Zhuzhou – Race 1 Challenge
- Liu Zi Chen (326 Racing Team, Audi RS 3 LMS), 17 laps
- Zhu Yan (326 Racing Team, Audi RS 3 LMS), 34.444
- Paul Poon Tak Chun (Teamwork Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 41.748
Zhuzhou – Race 2 Challenge
- Liu Zi Chen (326 Racing Team, Audi RS 3 LMS), 17 laps
- Li Guang Hua (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 4.850
- Li Ka Hei (Evolve Racing, Hyundai i30 N), 12.960
Championship points
- J. Zhang Zhi Qiang, 74 pts; 2. M. Cao Hong Wei, 71; 3. M. Xie Xin Zhe, 61
Challenge points
- Liu Zi Chen., 90 pts; 2. Li Guang Hua, 62; 3. Zhu Yan, 55
Picture: TCR China
