Asia Johor preview

Lee on board for Johor rounds as Porsche Carrera Cup Asia takes off

After only three rounds, the new Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is rapidly gaining recognition throughout the region as a professional and highly competitive series, with Hong Kong's most successful single seater pilot signing on as VIP driver for this weekend's rounds in Johor, Malaysia.

Marchy Lee Yin-Kin will be competing for the first time ever against Hong Kong's most accomplished touring and sports car competitor, and long-time mentor, Charles Kwan.

Backed by Puma Far East, it will also be Lee's maiden outing in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, and he is well aware of the task ahead of him.

"I have always dreamed of competing against Charles," said the 26-year-old. "But I know all the drivers in the series are extremely skilled and competitive, and all have the advantage of experience in the car."

Lee first began racing in 1989, and has since competed in the French Formula Renault Campus Championship, finishing 4th overall, and the French Formula 3 Championship. He has competed in the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, the most competitive F3 event on the international racing calendar, three times finishing a superb 7th overall last year. Although best known for his single seater success, Lee showed his versatility as a driver recently when he won his first foray into touring cars at a race in April this year.

"I am very much looking forward to competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and getting behind the wheel of the Porsche," said Lee. "It is an excellent opportunity for me, and I would like to thank Porsche Asia Pacific and Puma Far East for giving me the chance to race this weekend."

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia General Manager, Ian Geekie, is confident that the series will continue to gain momentum throughout the season. "We are delighted the series has attracted another professional talented young driver such as Marchy. It illustrates the high regard in which it is already held by the region's motorsport community after a relatively short time," he said.

Johor's challenging 3.86km Pasir Gudang Circuit will be the scene of an intense battle for points this weekend, with Thailand's C. Nattavude, another hugely successful touring car driver, and Briton Nigel Albon, jointly heading the leader board after three rounds with 54 points each. A second Thai driver Vutthikorn Inthrapuvasak is only 12 points adrift, while Kwan knows he cannot afford to make any mistakes if he is to maintain his championship hopes.

Making a return to the series is another driver from Hong Kong, Matthew Marsh. With backing from UPS, Marsh will be looking to improve on his impressive 4th place in round one of the series at Sepang in March.

The Porsche Carrera Cup "one make" concept, identical machines with only minimal modifications permitted, ensures that the combination of skill, talent and experience of the drivers is the deciding factor in competition.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia forms part of the Asian Festival of Speed and, following the upcoming Malaysian rounds, will travel to Thailand, South Korea and China, with a spectacular season-closer to be held as part of the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in November.

-pcca-