29 May 2022 Breaking one’s limits – Yang Hao-Yu takes Circuit Hero – Challenge Class win
On 29 May, 2022 ZMA Club Race welcomed the Circuit Hero – Challenge Class race. As a new entry level class for Circuit Hero, the Challenge class aims to attract more motorsport enthusiasts to come into a safe and fair race environment on a lower budget and enjoy the fun of motorsports. In the process brings in new blood for future Pan Delta events. The teams state that this new class has helped promote and develop motorsport culture. It also provides a platform for drivers to launch their careers towards higher level motorsports. In the end, Falcongear Racing Academy #11 Yang Hao-Yu takes the overall win.
Qualifying
Because of poor weather conditions, the 20 minutes qualifying session begins at 11:00. 5 minutes into the session, many cars slide off the circuit due to slippery track conditions. The race officials show the red flag to stop the qualifying session. At this time only #6 Chen Shu-Pei and #33 Wu Xun-Ming has set valid lap times. 8 minutes later the session is resumed. But soon after #20 slides off track into T11 gravel trap, the race officials show the red flag again. 7 minutes later the qualifying session resumes once more. In the end, #27 Liang Xue-Bin takes the pole position, #11 Yang Hao-Yu and #9 Wang Meng-Jiao are second and third respectively.
Race
The main race officially begins at 14:22. The weather is sunny and fine, track condition is good. The race is 8 laps long and 23 drivers are taking part. At the start #27 Liang Xue-Bin is unable to defend his position and drops down to fourth place. #11 Yang Hao-Yu, #3 Li Jin-Fei and #33 Wu Xun-Ming move up to the top 3 positions.
On lap 2, #11 Yang Hao-Yu extends his lead, while #33 Wu Xun-Ming and #27 Liang Xue-Bin make overtaking moves and begin to battle for second place and first place in A5 class. #9 Wang Meng-Jiao, who started in third position, has dropped down to 11th overall and sixth in A1 class. At half distance, #99 Zhang Jin-Ke overtakes and moves up to third place overall, as well as setting the fastest lap of the race with a 2:10.647 seconds lap.
Two laps to go and #22 stops on the grass at T11. The race offcials show the yellow flag. On the last lap, #99 Zhang Jin-Ke goes even quicker and begins to put pressure on #11 Yang Hao-Yu while #27 Liang Xue-Bin also begins to hunt down #33 Wu Xun-Ming, but is unable to pass before the end of the race. In the end, #11 Yang Hao-Yu successfully defends his lead and wins the race, while #99 Zhang Jin-Ke exceeded track limits at the race start and is penalized 10 seconds, so second and third places go to #33 Wu Xun-Ming and #99 Zhang Jin-Ke has to settle for third place.
In the various classes, A1 class top 3 are Falcongear Racing Academy #11 Yang Hao-Yu, #1 He Zheng-Dong and #3 Li Jin-Fei. A2 class top 3 are all from Li Feng Racing, #21 Hu Chen, #20 Yang Wei-Biao and #25 Lan Yang; A3 class top 3 are BM-TECH Racing #99 Zhang Jin-Ke and its other team member #98 Ren Yong-Xin; A5 class top 3 are Zhongshan SRC Racing #33 Wu Xun-Ming, Jiangmin Starchase Racing #27 Liang Xue-Bin and #88 Zhongshan SRC Racing #88 Su Jun-Hua; A6 class top 3 are Vitour Tires Zijiren Racing #31 Ye Guo-Hua and his teammate #30 Huang Jin-Cheng.
Post Race Interview
After the race, overall winner Yang Hao-Yu said, “This is the first time I race at Zhuhai International Circuit and it is also my first race since gaining my race license. I am very happy and very excited. The final moments were a little tense, but I was able to keep my position. I will continue to take part in Zhuhai’s races and try to challenge higher level races.”