Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Rounds 11 & 12, Shanghai International Circuit, September 21-23 – Round 12
Sawa Crowned 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion in Shanghai Shanghai. LKM Racing Team’s Keita Sawa was crowned 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion today after the final, title-deciding race of the season held at the 5.5km Shanghai International Circuit. The Japanese ace beat title rival Rodolfo Avila of Team Jebsen in a dramatic showdown to win the championship by a single point.
Winner of Round 12, and third in the championship, was Team StarChase driver Alexandre Imperatori, who put in another faultless pole-to-flag performance despite a Safety Car interruption. Second across the line was Avila, but his 18 points were not enough to beat Sawa.
Newly-crowned Class B Champion, Team BetterLife’s Wang Jian Wei of China, ended his triumphant debut GT season in style, taking the category victory in the final race of the year, ahead of Team Kangshun’s Ringo Chong and OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia. The trio finished the race in championship order.
Sawa, who thanked his LKM Racing Team for their support, and credited consistency for his championship win, had carefully planned his targets for the weekend, but had not reckoned on the technical glitch which made his win all the harder to achieve – and taste all the sweeter: “My target was to make Rodolfo’s tyres work hard. After he passed me, I knew there was still the situation of the gap to Alex, so I was still quite comfortable. In the middle of the race, my gear shift stuck so I tried to use the clutch to shift up. After the Safety Car came out though, I just prayed! During the last lap I was feeling very, very happy. This is my third year of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia competition, and now my dream has come true. I will never forget today.”
Race winner Imperatori, 24, was upbeat, despite the blow dealt to his championship aspirations by missing out on two races: “My thanks to Team StarChase and our partners TransAsia Airways and PICC Property and Casualty. It’s a funny feeling (not to have won the title) having had so much success, but we showed our performance which was the most important from my point of view. Congratulations to Keita – it was very close in the end, which is great for everyone.”
For Avila, also 24, the disappointment of missing out on the title was tempered by the adrenaline from two fantastic races: “It’s been a great season and Team Jebsen and I have improved so much over last year. We’re getting stronger with every outing. This is just my third year in the series, and fourth in sports car competition, so missing out by just a single point is frustrating but at the same time a great achievement to come this close to winning such a competitive international championship.”
The final race proved as dramatic as the season. As the lights went out, pole-sitter Imperatori led the field and immediately set about building a lead, but behind him, Sawa, LKM Racing team mate Tim Sugden, Avila and Class B sensation Davide Rizzo of Woyo Racing Team roared into turn one. Avila knew he could not remain behind Sugden, but Rizzo was right on his tail forcing him to defend his position while looking to find a way past the Briton at the same time.
Imperatori had built a lead of 1.659 seconds from Sawa by the end of the opening lap, but the Japanese driver knew second was enough to win him the title. Avila, however, was far from done and got alongside Sugden on the following lap, but could not make the pass. Rizzo kept up the pressure, and the Team Jebsen driver was well and truly sandwiched between the pair, allowing Sawa to extend his margin.
Behind them, Francis Tjia was running sixth overall, and second amongst the Class B category behind Rizzo, followed by Wang and the hard-charging Class A driver Henri Richard who was up to eighth.
Lap 5 saw Sawa slow with gearbox problems, and team mate Sugden arriving behind him fast going into the turn. Rizzo got a good exit and charged into third behind Sawa, with Avila and Sugden in hot pursuit. A coming together with Avila spelled disaster for the Italian as he picked up a puncture.
Racing to save his championship dreams, Avila took the charge to the struggling Sawa, passing him on Lap 6. Imperatori had built up an unassailable lead at the front, while Avila knew that, unless misfortune struck his rival, it was all over. All that changed in a second though, when debris on the track saw the Safety Car come out, closing up the field. Imperatori had it all to do again, and Avila had a final chance to snatch the title from Sawa, who by this stage was praying hard.
When the Safety Car pulled off, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia field sprang back into action for the final time in 2011, with Imperatori again getting away well and charging to the flag. Avila crossed the line second, ahead of Sawa, with Sugden in fourth. Richard finished fifth after a superb performance.
The drama of the final round was a fitting grand finale to what has been a spectacular ninth season for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, with record grids and some of the most intense competition of its history. The first season under the leadership of Porsche China has also seen the championship’s following gather momentum, and plans are already underway for a milestone tenth season in 2012.
Results – Round 12
| Pos | Comp No | Driver | Class | Entrant | Time |
| 1 | 99 | Alexandre IMPERATORI (SUI) | A | Team StarChase (CHN) | 26.12:744 |
| 2 | 20 | Rodolfo AVILA (MAC) | A | Team Jebsen (HKG) | +2:195 |
| 3 | 88 | Keita SAWA (JPN) | A | LKM Racing Team (HKG) | +3:444 |
| 4 | 55 | *Tim SUGDEN (GBR) | A | LKM Racing Team (HKG) | +3:850 |
| 5 | 63 | Henri RICHARD (FRA) | A | Henri Richard (FRA) | +6:775 |
| 6 | 9 | WANG Jian Wei (CHN) | B | Team BetterLife (CHN) | +7:913 |
| 7 | 11 | Ringo CHONG (SIN) | B | Team Kangshun (CHN) | +8:347 |
| 8 | 21 | Francis TJIA (NED) | B | OpenRoad Racing (HKG) | +10:525 |
| 9 | 16 | Wayne SHEN (CAN) | B | Modena Motorsports (HKG) | +13:094 |
| 10 | 5 | Yuey TAN (SIN) | B | Wimobilize McElrea Racing (SIN) | +13:981 |
| 11 | 59 | *Daniel BILSKI(HKG) | B | Daniel Bilski (HKG) | +14:256 |
| 12 | 66 | Rose TAN (CHN) | B | Team C&D (CHN) | +17:356 |
| 14 | 98 | Philip MA (HKG) | A | Team Hong Kong Racing (HKG) | +18:883 |
| 15 | 18 | Marcel TJIA (HKG) | B | OpenRoad Racing (HKG) | +20:124 |
| 16 | 68 | MAK Hing Tak (HKG) | B | OMAK (HKG) | +22:331 |
| 17 | 27 | Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS) | B | Nexus Racing (MAS) | +22:765 |
| 18 | 77 | Jacky YEUNG (HKG) | B | Jacky Yeung (HKG) | +29:473 |
| 19 | 37 | Davide RIZZO (ITA) | B | Woyo Racing Team (CHN) | +30:276 |
| - | 7 | Jeffrey LEE (TPE) | B | Team Pauian Archiland Absolute Racing (TPE) | DNF |
| - | 83 | Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG) | B | Asia Racing Team (MAC) | DNF |
| - | 15 | Keith VONG (MAC) | B | Asia Racing Team (MAC) | DNF |
| - | 22 | Morris KU (HKG) | B | Team DAYCRAFT (HKG) | DNF |
| - | 23 | Paul TRESIDDER (AUS) | B | Bake House Quarter (AUS) | DNF |
*Non series registered
Fastest Lap: Alexandre Imperatori/Team StarChase/1:50.931
Final 2011 Points after Round 12
Overall
| Pos | Comp No | Driver | Entrant | Points |
| 1 | 88 | Keita SAWA | LKM Racing Team | 199 |
| 2 | 20 | Rodolfo AVILA | Team Jebsen | 198 |
| 3 | 99 | Alexandre IMPERATORI | Team StarChase | 185 |
| 4 | 55 | Darryl O’YOUNG | LKM Racing Team | 130 |
| 5 | 9 | WANG Jian Wei | Team BetterLife | 121 |
Class B
| Pos | Comp No | Driver | Entrant | Points |
| 1 | 9 | WANG Jian Wei | Team BetterLife | 212 |
| 2 | 11 | Ringo CHONG | Team Kangshun | 178 |
| 3 | 21 | Francis TJIA | OpenRoad Racing | 170 |
| 4 | 16 | Wayne SHEN | Modena Motorsports | 128 |
| 5 | 5 | Davide RIZZO | Woyo Racing Team | 104 |
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2011
Series Partners
Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close co-operation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group.
The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian based Motorsport Asia Ltd.
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Stronger, wider, faster, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - the best selling race car in the world - was introduced in 2010. Based for the first time on the light-weight road-going version of the 911 GT3 RS, the body corresponds largely to the standard model, with Porsche modifying the aerodynamics for racing. The front spoiler lip has been lowered 15 millimetres, providing significantly more downforce. Rear downforce has also increased with the rear wing growing from 1.46 to 1.70 metres and fitted higher up as a feature taken from the even stronger 911 GT3 Cup S. The engine is largely identical to the production unit in the 911 GT3 RS: with capacity up from 3.6 litres to 3.8 litres, the six-cylinder motor delivers 30 hp more than its predecessor. The power output is 450 bhp, with a maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.
The racing exhaust features a fully controlled catalytic converter. Via a ZF Sachs race clutch, a sequential six-speed dog-type gearbox and a limited slip differential, the engine power is transmitted to the rear axle.
With the rear body 44-millimetres broader than standard, there is sufficient space for wider wheels. The front axle comes with three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18). The three-piece light-alloy rims on the rear axle grew an inch to 12 J x 18. Anti-roll bars front and rear, now adjustable to seven different positions, allow an even more precise set-up. The camber, track, ride height, and rear wing can be adjusted within the regulations.
About Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia blasted off the starting grid in 2003 and has never looked back. Joining the family of hugely successful Porsche “one make” series, it has quickly become the premier sportscar series in the region, with a massive fan and media following. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia offers extremely exciting racing across the region and is truly international, with competitors from all over Asia as well as Europe. The field is made up of a combination of experienced touring and sportscar competitors and ambitious and talented gentlemen drivers.
About Porsche China
Porsche is known throughout the world for creating the ultimate sports cars for everyday use. Under the guiding credo of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”, Porsche provides a new generation of sports cars that prove high performance and efficiency are not contradictory terms. Since commencing operations in 2001, Porsche China has imported iconic sports cars that are imbued with the sporting spirit that has defined the marque since 1948: the legendary 911 series, the renowned Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars, the Cayenne premium SUV and the four-door Panamera Gran Turismo. Porsche China currently oversees 33 Porsche Centres nationwide, ensuring that Porsche owners across China receive the hallmark personalised care that customers have come to associate with the brand. In 2011, Porsche celebrates its 10th anniversary in Mainland China with a new annual sales record of 14,785 deliveries. For more information, please visit us at www.porsche.cn.
