Asian TCC Sepang Event Summary

Chen’s Asian Touring Car Series double podium weekend

It was a spectacular Asian Touring Car Series Round 6 race, where Chen Jun San cemented his place at the top of the Championship Points table.

Chen claimed the win in a race that was marred by a red flag when Malaysian driver, Perajun Krishnan, lost control of his car after suffering what appeared to be a brake failure and was unable to slow down, at the end of the very fast main straight, before hitting the tyre barrier at Turn 1.

The Malaysian driver had minor cuts and bruises, but is safe and was sent to the hospital for precautionary checks.

The race resumed after Perajun and his car were cleared off the track. Chen was one of the drivers that suffered the most, after anticipating a short race and opting not to use a cool suit. The stint on the grid during the red flag was torture for him.

“The second race was very hard for me. In the first race, the Safety Car period helped to cool my tyres down but this second race with the pace car and stop was terrible for me as I didn’t have my cool suit on. So it was very hot, I was burning” said Chen with a laugh.

Despite the heat, Chen kept a cool head and maintained a steady fast pace to claim the top step of the podium. He crossed the line ahead of Hong Kong Touring Car Championship drivers Paul Poon, Eric Kwong, and Samson Fung while Kenneth Lau and Shugeriawan Sutanta claimed second and third in the Asian Touting Car Series.

Poon, who came to the weekend four points behind Eric Kwong in the HTCC points table, claimed the win after two spectacular races. He thereby sealed the Championship for the third time whilst Kwong was disappointed but happy with the outcome of his HTCC season.

After the race, Poon said “Great! Excellent! I had a good start and managed to overtake Eric and stay in front of him. I drove my best and won the Championship.

“It’s my first time in Sepang this weekend and I won both races and it’s just amazing to win the Championship at the last round” he concluded.

For Kwong, second place in the Championship was still commendable especially in his first season. “So far I am satisfied with this weekend. It wasn’t perfect but I am happy”.

Claiming the third podium spot for HTCC was Samson Fung “I had a good start and led the race for a couple of laps then Chen took me. I lost my spot to Paul and I knew that he was fighting for the Championship so I stayed out of his way”.

Indonesian driver Sutanta is looking forward to the next two races at Sentul on his home track and after a good result in Round 6, he is positive of an even better result. “This is my first podium in ATCS. I started down in the back and maybe I am very lucky. It will be my home race next and I think I can do more”.

Kenneth Lau was happy with his podium finish and commented on a good clean race and is looking forward to Sentul. “It will be my first time in Sentul and I will try my best. I am happy that we maintained a clean race”.

Hideharu Kuroki could not finish the race and was left to park his car on the same spot that his teammate, Cheung Chi Sing, did in the race earlier. Kuroki and the team hopes that they will be able to get his engine sorted before the next event.

The Asian Touring Car Series will continue at Sentul International Circuit, Indonesia with Rounds 7 & 8 from 23-24 July 2011 as part of the Asian Festival Of Speed.

BY: Motorsport Asia