Jason Zhang leads a pair of Teamwork Motorsport 1-2 at Zhejiang
Teamwork Motorsport’s Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang won both TCR China races at Zhejiang International Circuit, leading guest teammate Ma Qing Hua in two action-packed races, while his championship rival Martin Cao Hong Wei finished twice third.
Zhang has extended his lead to 28 points over Cao, with Xie in third position, 47 points behind.
Race 1 - Zhang had secured the pole ahead of teammate Juan Carlos Zhu Hu An. At the start, Zhang led from Zhu into T1, while Martin Xie Xin Zhe passed Xiao Kun Peng and Cao who had made contact ahead of him. The safety car was deployed when Sunny Wong Yat Shing’s Lynk & Co stopped following an incident with Andy Yan Cheuk Wai’s Hyundai on lap 2. The race resumed for just two laps before the second-placed Lynk & Co of Juan Carlos Zhu stopped on track with an engine issue. After the second restart, Ma was able to pass Cao for third and then Xie for second. In the late stages, Cao closed up on Xie and snatched the final podium position on the last lap, while Zhang and Ma finished 1-2.
Race 2 - Wu Yi Fan lined up on pole in the 326 Racing Team Audi and held the lead at the start, while Xie made up two spots and was straight up to second. Xie took the lead from Wu at T4, with Wu losing two more places to Rainey He Xiao Le and Ma Qing Hua. Ma overtook He for second and began chasing down Xie, taking the lead on lap 3. Meanwhile Zhang was in a fierce battle with the Hyundai cars of Cao and Yan for fourth position. Cao passed Zhang on lap 4 to take fifth, and he was quickly let by Yan for fourth. Zhang was able to recover and passed both Yan and Cao, while He moved up to second ahead of Xie on lap 8. There was a safety car for debris on lap 12 after two backmarkers had collided. When the race resumed, Zhang overtook Xie, with the latter quickly falling behind Cao and Yan. Zhang dived down the inside of He in a daring move on lap 16, and then was let through into the lead by Ma, while He similarly slowed down to let his title contender teammate Cao through for the final podium position.
TCR China Challenge – In Race 1, pole sitter Li Guang Hua stalled his Lynk & Co at the start, leaving the door open for Liu Zi Chen to take a commanding victory in his 326 Racing Team Audi. In a chaotic second race, Li recovered after starting from the reversed grid to secure the victory, while Race 1 winner Liu was unable to start due to personal reasons.
The next event for both series will be at Ningbo on September 6/8.
Zhejiang – Race 1
- Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 20 laps
- Ma Qing Hua (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 2.475
- Martin Cao Hong Wei (Hyundai N, Hyundai Elantra N), 4.989
Zhejiang – Race 2
- Jason Zhang Zhi Qiang (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 19 laps
- Ma Qing Hua (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 1.383
- Martin Cao Hong Wei (Hyundai N, Hyundai Elantra N), 3.320
Championship points
- J. Zhang, 222 pts; 2. M. Cao, 194; 3. M. Xie, 175
Challenge points
- Li Guang Hua, 188 pts; 2. Liu Zi Chen, 177 pts; 3. Pan Yi Ming, 155
Picture: TCR China
