28 May 2016 Mercedes SLS continues winning streak while John Shen is penalized
At 1:45 on 19 March, Pan Delta Super Racing Festival Circuit Hero One holds its first race of the year. This is a 15 laps race and it uses a rolling start. The occasionally seen sun has now disappeared behind the downcast weather. With rain a possibility, there is a degree of uncertainty about how the race will evolve. Low track temperatures and slight drizzle at parts of the track means drivers have to make difficult decisions on tyre choices.
Gou Gou-Xin s Mercedes SLS starts from the pole position ahead of Enzo Lok s Lamborghini Huracan. The battle between these racers attract a huge crowd in the ZIC grandstand.
Gou Gou-Xin s SLS makes a not so good getaway, Lamborghini takes the lead but it is not to last. After one lap, the SLS shows its superiority and takes the lead at turn 12 down the inside line. Huang Xi-Zhan also uses the opportunity to get past Enzo Lok. Back on the main straight, Guo Guo-Xin leads, Huang Xi-Zhan second, Enzo Lok third and it is business as usual. John Shen in his Porsche 997 runs fourth. By lap 3 the leading quartet are more than 10 seconds up the road.
Lap 5, one car stops by the side of the track but the race is unaffected. Enzo Lok is still running hard and puts in a lap of 1:39.208. But his good run is interrupted when John Shen overtakes him for third place. John then starts attacking Huang Xi-Zhan for second. At turn 9, John dives down the inside of Huang and catches him unawares, the two cars almost touch. John Shen manages to make the move stick and is into second place. On lap 8, Huang seems to be anxious to get back on terms but makes a mistake and runs into the sand trap. He has to retire from the race.
On lap 9 some of the cars begin to turn on their windscreen wipers, as part of the track begins to rain. This is a difficult question for the drivers. If they change tyres now then they will lose too much time in the pits buf if they continue then they run the risk of going off. It is a test of the drivers experience.
The positions of the top three are basically settled. Guo Guo-Xin continues to lead with John Shen in second place. Enzo Lok is third . In the end, the top 3 crosses the finish line in this order.
After the race Guo Guo-Xin said, "The mainland drivers have improved a lot. They have given me more and more pressure. By the time of the summer race I am sure the race will be very exciting. I believe some drivers will be able to challenge me then. It will be more difficult but at the same time more fun to race." He continued, "For this race our team arrived late. We only got here on Thursday and we had no time to setup the car. So our speed today was only average. Tomorrow race is shorter and has a standing start, it might be a little difficult."
John Shen said,"Today race was exciting. I lost two positions at the start and I was fourth watching second place and third place fight. I took the opportunity to get past them both when they got into a little trouble. It looked a little dangerous when I past the second car but we were very much in control and there was quite a gap betwen us. Tomorrow I will start second and should have a chance to challenge the SLS." Unfortunately he has 30 seconds added to his race time because he overtook under a yellow flag.
Enzo Lok said,"This is the second time I took part in the race. Last year I drove a Ferrari 458, this year I changed to a Lamborghini Huracan. I am here to challenge the Mercedes. This years car is faster and I can keep up at most places on track. Todays race was exciting and everything was okay."
Class
|
Pos
|
No
|
Driver
|
GT3
|
1
|
26
|
Guo Guo-Xin
|
2
|
68
|
John Shen
|
|
3
|
88
|
Liu Peng
|
|
GT
|
1
|
36
|
Enzo Lok
|
2
|
27
|
Liu She-Hui
|
|
3
|
87
|
Chen Qi
|
|
Open
|
1
|
13
|
Jon Flinn
|
A
|
1
|
2
|
Xie Rui-Lun
|
2
|
22
|
Tommy Chan
|
|
3
|
11
|
Liu Chao
|
|
B
|
1
|
66
|
Chen Zhong
|
2
|
77
|
Ulrich Sanne
|
|
3
|
12
|
Liu Jiang-Tao
|
|
C
|
1
|
17
|
Zhang De-Xiang
|
Please visit www.zic.com.cn for detailed results.
Time
|
Details
|
13:32
|
#16 spins at T9.
|
13:33
|
#16 runs on to the grass at T10A, towed away.
|
13:56
|
#50 stops on the grass, towed away.
|
13:58
|
#18 runs on to the grass at T11, return to the race.
|
14:02
|
#28 runs into the sand trap at T1, towed away.
|
14:06
|
#3 stops on the straight.
|
14:06
|
#8 has a puncture on T1 and slows down.
|
14:07
|
#68 overtakes under yellow flag at T14A.
|
C. Important notices
No.
|
Details
|
Race Control Bulletin 04
|
Circuit Hero One #68 overtook another competitor at T14A under yellow flags. 30 seconds is added to his race time.
|