20 Sep 2014 Lamborghini burns up the track in its first day of racing at ZIC

September 20, 2014, Zhuhai (China) – The heat was on as racers arrived at the Zhuhai International Circuit for the third stop of the Super Trofeo Asia series of races hosted by Italian super sports car maker Automobili Lamborghini and Swiss luxury watchmaker Blancpain.

Following a cool stint in the foothills of Japan’s Mount Fuji, racers returned to the tropics and southern China’s Zhuhai International Circuit for their next race. Fast on the heels of the challenging Fuji track, the racers were in for a treat with this intense, former Formula One race track, China’s first standard international circuit and second only to the Shanghai International Circuit in terms of popularity.

This stop also coincided with the annual Pan Delta Super Racing Festival, one of the most loved motorsports events in China’s racing calendar. The stands were packed with spectators on this first day of racing and the Super Trofeo featured prominently in the lineup of races in the Pan Delta, adding to the excitement of this diverse and impressive gathering of racers and vehicles. The Zhuhai stop of Super Trofeo Asia exemplifies the goal of this series of races – to give ‘gentlemen drivers’ as well as professionals a chance to battle it out in the ultimate racetrack environment.

There was no lack of excitement in today’s competition with a very international lineup of racers. The Japanese pro duo of Nakaya/Takuchi (#11) maintained a strong lead early in the race, but were taken out of the running as they approached the halfway point. The Malaysian pro-am team of Zen/Afiq (#69) also showed a strong start, but dropped out of the top three spots in the second half after the mandatory pit and driver change. Perhaps the most stable performance was by the Sri Lankan and Japanese team of Malagamuwa/Urata (#24), who remained in the top three spots for nearly the entire race.

Just after the midpoint of today’s race, Chinese favorite Jiang Xin and his partner Max Wiser (#9) came up from behind and took the number one spot, which they kept until the end of the race, coming in first overall. A pleasant surprise among the amateur competitors was solo driver Toshiyuki Ochiai (#12), who performed impressively on this intense and exiting track, placing first in the AM category and second overall.

Whether it was the excitement in the stands or the intensity in the pits, today’s first race at the Zhuhai International Circuit was a hot one and more excitement is expected tomorrow with a second exciting race.