Liu Zi Chen and Pan Yi Ming take victories in TCR China Challenge
Audi drivers Liu Zi Chen and Pan Yi Ming emerged as the winners in a pair of exciting races of the TCR China Challenge, the second tier of TCR China running on its own this weekend at the Daqing circuit.
A technical issue forced Liu to retire from the lead in Race 2, while his rival in the title fight Richard Li Guang Hua finished fourth and third in the two races.
This helped Li to stretch his leadership in the standings from 11 to 20 points over Liu, while Pan has closed the gap from the leading pair and lies third only one point behind Liu.
Race 1 – Liu had taken a last gasp pole in Q2, outpacing Pan by 0.16 seconds. At the start, points leader Li failed to get away from sixth on the grid in his Teamwork Motorsport Lynk & Co and dropped to the rear of the field.
Pan tried to overtake Liu into T1 but left himself vulnerable as he ran wide and was passed by the fast-starting Wu Yi Fan who was up four places in one corner. The safety car was called which crucially allowed Li to catch up to the field. After the restart, Huang Ying’s Hyundai locked up and lost fourth to Hu Heng who started to pressure Pan for the final podium position. The safety car was called back into action as the Hyundai of Liu Hong Zhi stopped at the first corner, having caught fire. In the final stages of the race, Li was charging through from sixth at the restart, passing Huang on lap 16 before finally claiming fourth place on the final lap from Pan. Nothing could stop the two 326 Racing Team drivers however, with Liu winning by 2.6 seconds over teammate Wu, with Hu completing an Audi 1-2-3.
Race 2 - With the top six reversed for Race 2, Li started from pole, but he was jumped at the start by Wu who was alongside him on the front row. Li was now defending against Huang Ying, who swapped places on the opening lap with Race 1 winner Liu who then passed Li, moving up to second on lap 4.
Huang then resumed his fight with Li, now for third, but this cost himself time at the hairpin and he was passed by Pan on lap 5. The safety car was deployed on lap 9 after the Volkswagen Golf of Lin Xue Jun stopped on the circuit. When the race resumed, it turned into a complete disaster for the first two drivers Wu and Liu, whose 326 Racing Team Audi cars suddenly slowed and retired, leaving Li in the lead. Li was under pressure from Pan, and with three laps to go Pan stole the lead from Li who ran wide, allowing Hu Heng through into second. Pan went on to win ahead of Hu, with Li completing the podium.
The next round of the TCR China Challenge takes place next weekend at the Ningbo International Circuit, where it will be sharing the bill with the TCR China Championship.
Daqing – Race 1
- Liu Zi Chen (326 Racing Team, Audi RS 3 LMS), 20 laps
- Wu Yi Fan (326 Racing Team, Audi RS 3 LMS), 2.558
- Hu Heng (GYT Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 3.277
Daqing – Race 2
- Pan Yi Ming (Nkoda HW Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 20 laps
- Hu Heng (GYT Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 0.343
- Richard Li Guang Hua (Teamwork Motorsport, Lynk&Co 03), 0.710
Challenge points
- Li Guang Hua, 247 pts; 2. Liu Zi Chen, 227 pts; 3. Pan Yi Ming, 226
Picture: TCR China
