Shi Shiwei and Gao Zilong share wins in TCR Taipei’s opening

The season opener of TCR Chinese Taipei at Lihpao Racing Park saw the reigning champion Shi Shiwei and Gao Zilong taking one race win apiece, as the series has switched to a double-header sprint format. Shi and his Honda Civic FK7 beat Gavin Huang’s new Civic FL5 in Race 1, then Gao inherited the win in the second race following Huang’s penalty. Despite losing the victory, two second places meant that Huang has taken an early lead in the standings, two points ahead of Gao.

Huang was on pole for Saturday’s Race 1, having topped Gao Zilong’s older Civic FK7 in qualifying by less than three tenths. Under pouring rain, Huang and Shi had a thrilling battle for the lead that eventually ended with Shi beating Huang to the line by eight tenths of a second, with Gao finishing a distant third.

It was raining again on Sunday morning, when Shi started Race 2 from the pole, while Huang stalled from P2 and dropped to fourth. Huang quickly passed You Yihao and Gao, stealing the lead from Shi in lap 2, and then was able to pull away. Behind him, Gao overtook Shi to take second in lap 6; Shi also lost the third place when You passed him in lap 10. Huang was first under the chequered flag, but a series of track limit infringements resulted in a 27-second penalty that demoted him to second behind Gao.

The series will resume al Lihpao for rounds 3 and 4 on 29/30 June.

Lihpao – Race 1

1. Shi Shiwei (GH-Team AAI, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 15 laps
2. Gavin Huang Junzhi (BC Racing, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 0.857
3. Gao Zilong (Liming Racing, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 32.448

Lihpao – Race 2

1. Gao Zilong (Liming Racing, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 15 laps
2. Gavin Huang Junzhi (BC Racing, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 1.302
3. You Yihao (Team Border, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 2.861

Championship points

1. G. Huang Junzhi, 21 pts; 2. Gao Zilong, 19; 3. Shi Shiwei, 16

Picture: STS