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TCR 2017
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The TCR Asia Series returned to
Zhuhai after a gap of three weeks
and delivered the fifth and sixth
different winners from the six races
held so far.
Abdul Kaathir (R Engineering Honda
Civic) and Eric Kwong (Elegant
Racing Team SEAT León) shared the
victories in two races that were full
of thrilling moments and saw the
championship leaders hit by bad
luck.
Kaathir’s teammate Lai Wee Sing took
the lead in the standings with 93
points, four and eight points ahead
of the Liqui Moly Team Engstler duo
of Diego Moran and Kantadhee Kusiri,
while Kaathir lies fourth with a gap
of 12 points from the leader.
Race 1 - Pole sitter Kusiri stalled at
the start due to an electrical bug;
Kaathir and Lai were fighting for the
lead, but Kaathir ran wide and
dropped to third behind Jasper
Thong’s Audi. On lap 3 Shaun Thong
overtook Kaathir for second; the
leading quartet of Lai, the Thong
brothers and Kaathir was covered by
only 1.5 seconds. However, J. Thong
had a drive through penalty for a
grid infringement and rejoined at the
back.
On the last lap S. Thong attacked
Lai, they ran abreast, made contact
and went off together; Thong’s Audi
remained stranded in the gravel,
while Lai rejoined but finished
second behind Kaathir and ahead of
Moran and J. Thong.
Race 2 – Viper Niza Racing’s William
O’Brien and Douglas Khoo filled the
front row on the reverse grid as rain
hit the track. O’Brien went off during
the first lap, while Kwong and Alex
Liu – on wet tyres – overtook Lai and
J. Thong and pulled away.
J. Thong pitted for wet tyres, while
his brother Shaun climbed to fifth
and then to third, overtaking Khoo
and Lai. But Kwong and Liu had built
too big a gap and managed to make
a 1-2 finish for SEAT and the Elegant
Racing Team.
Next event: Rounds 7 & 8, Bagsaen,
Thailand, 1/2 July.
Six winners out of six races
Results
Zhuhai, Round 5, Sunday 23 April
1. Abdul Kaathir (Honda Civic); 2. Lai
Wee Sing (Honda Civic); 3. Diego
Moran (Volkswagen Golf)
Zhuhai, Round 6, Sunday 23 April
1. Eric Kwong (SEAT León); 2. Alex
Liu (SEAT León); 3. Shaun Thong
(Audi RS3 LMS)