20 Jun 2014 Circuit Hero One Race 1: Easy win for Zhang Shan-Qi
In the afternoon of 14 June 2014, Circuit Hero One driver Zhang Shan-Qi wins comfortably in front of the Pan Delta fans.
In the morning on the same day, Circuit Hero One racers completed their qualifying session. On the entry list are familiar names like Zhang Shan-Qi, Li Qing-Xin, Bill O Brien etc. There are also various race cars such as Ferrari 458, Mercedes C63, BMW M3, Audi TT and Caterham etc, separated into GT, A, B and C classes.
In fact, the cars in the higher classes are not necessarily faster. In the technical regulations, there is very little restriction on modifications. Therefore many supercars are created. In this qualifying session for example, the GT class and A class machines are mixed up. GT class Zhang Shan-Qi is fastest with 1:42.988, ahead of class A Bill O Brien 1:46.980, GT class Troy is third 1:48.034 while Scott Wrayton and Miao Hua-Bin are fourth and fifth in class A and GT respectively.
At 4:15pm, the Circuit Hero One race begins. Zhang Shan-Qi Ferrari has a 4 second advantage in qualifying and it seems he will dominate this race.
As the red lights go out the race begins. Zhang does not make a great start but he still keeps his lead. The rest of the field follows. Zhang then begins to make use of his Ferraris power and ends the first lap with a 1 second plus lead. Clearly he will pull away further.
No. 91 Scott Wrayton is now up to second place after passing Bill O Brien. He almost caught Zhang's Ferrari. The two leaders then begin to breakway from the rest of the field.
On lap 3, #9 Zhang Guo-Hao runs off the track into the sandtrap. He is in a safe position and so will not affect the other drivers. Scott Wrayton and Zhang Shan-Qi are trading fastest laps. But Zhang's 1:46 lap time is clearly below his qualifying lap time. He is seemingly under pressure.
On lap 5, Zhang Shan-Qi finally breakaway from Scott and opens up a 2 second gap. But Scott Wrayton is not giving up.
On lap 8, Scott Wrayton stops his car at the pit lane entrance. The car is bellowing smoke and the driver quickly gets out and away. The marshals quickly comes to aid with their fire extinguishers. Soon the fire is put out and the situation is under control. Double yellow flags are waved to warn all the oncoming drivers.
On lap 9, no 11 spins before a corner and his efforts to rescue the car ended up with him parked sideways across the track. Fortunately there is no other car nearby. On the last lap Zhang Shan-Qi continues to lead and cross the finish line in first place. Bill O Brien is second, 12 seconds behind. Troy is third.