12 May 2014 FMCS: Double pole for Swanepoel in Zhuhai
(Zhuhai, China) Nineteen-year old Matthew Swanepoel of Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG took his first Formula Masters China Series pole under heavy rain at the Zhuhai International Circuit. The South African rookie set his qualifying time on his first lap, with the rest of the 18-car field unable to better it in the 15-minute session. Swanepoel’s team mate, series newcomer James Munro (17) of New Zealand, will start alongside for tomorrow’s first race of the 2014 season.
Third quickest in qualifying was Japan’s Yuya Motojima, 23. Racing with Super License, the Porsche Carrera Cup Japan driver is also making his FMCS debut this season. Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG driver Dan Wells (22) was fourth fastest in the session, with the Briton racing his first full FMCS season after competing in four races last year. Fifth fastest was Meritus GP driver Aston Hare (18) of South Africa, who makes his debut with the series this year.
With the second qualifying session cancelled due to heavy rain, the results from this afternoon’s Free Practice will form the grid for Sunday’s Race 3. Swanepoel topped the timesheets in Free Practice and with Munro just behind him it will be a Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG front row for at least two of this weekend’s three races. Race 3 will see Wells start from third on the grid, with Eurasia Motorsport and Star Racing Academy driver Yuan Bo from fourth. Yuan was the fastest Chinese driver in both free practice and qualifying.
While it had been raining all day, the heavens opened just as qualifying began. Swanepoel immediately went out and set his time of 1:58.376, which ultimately could not be beat. Munro set his fastest time on his first lap as did Wells, who was third quickest until Motojima set his quickest time on his only lap of the session.
With less than seven minutes remaining in the session, the red flags came out after several cars spun and stopped at Turn 4. The session resumed but no one was able to top Swanepoel’s time.
Following the qualifying session, FMCS hosted its season launch, announcing its drivers, teams and partners for the 2014 season. In addition to eight returning drivers, the series welcomed 10 drivers making their FMCS debut this season, along with two new teams, Humpuss Junior Racing Team and Zen Motorsport. At the launch Dominic Lyncker, Motorsport Director, Volkswagen Group China thanked the series partners for their support and highlighted FMCS as a proven platform for China and the region’s top junior talents to establish a solid motorsport foundation and provide a clear path for the next generation of motorsport heroes to become part of the Volkswagen Group China motorsport family.
“After just a single season, Formula Masters China Series is achieving exactly what it was designed to do and we are delighted to see Star Racing Academy driver Bao Jin Long racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia,” Lyncker said. “Reigning FMCS champion Aidan Wright from Australia is racing with the Audi R8 LMS Cup as is Hong Kong driver Matthew Solomon. As we embark on our second season, we can already see how close the competition will be. We look forward to continuing to provide a platform for China and Asia’s best junior talents to develop and hopefully to see more of them graduate into more advanced series within Volkswagen Group China.”
Formula Masters China Series gets its 2014 season underway tomorrow with the Races 1 and 2 at the Zhuhai International Circuit. Race 3 will take place on Sunday.
Driver Quotes:
Matthew SWANEPOEL/South Africa/Cebu Pacific Air by KMG – Pole Position, Races 1 and 3
“It was raining pretty hard and I knew I needed to get my laps in very soon. It’s good to be able to go out and get it done. This is my first ever pole and I enjoy the wet. It’s good to know that I can be fast in the wet and I can only improve from here. It’s a good start to the season.”
James MUNRO/ New Zealand/ Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG – P2 Races 1 and 3
“I only got one lap in. On my second lap, I hit a puddle at the end of the straight and aquaplaned. I thought we had good speed today to go out and go for pole but second is a good result. I’m fairly confident heading into the race. I think it will come down to the start because of visibility. If it’s a Safety Car start, there will be fewer opportunities to overtake but I’ll give it my best.”
Yuya MOTOJIMA/ Japan/ Super License – P3 Race 1
“I was lucky today! My timing was good for when I went out in qualifying. I was on old tires during practice and when we put on new tires I was hoping to be at the front with other drivers. I joined Formula Masters China Series to have the experience of racing outside of Japan and race against other drivers.”
Dan WELLS/ Great Britain/ Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG – P3 Race 3
“It’s fantastic to be back in FMCS and this time for the whole season. In free practice, we had been running competitively and there were some small points that we needed to improve in qualifying, that we didn’t quite have a chance to do. To have three drivers in the same team that are really competitive is great – we’ll be pushing each other all season.”
YUAN Bo / China/ Eurasia Motorsport – Fastest Chinese Driver
“I feel more comfortable with the car this year. My free practice time was good and I think if I had been able to finish my lap in qualifying I would have had a better time in the first qualifying session. Unfortunately the red flag came out during that lap and I wasn’t able to get in a good time.”
2014 Formula Masters China Series: Provisional Qualifying Race 1
| Pos | No | Driver/Nationality | Entrant | Time |
| 1 | 49 | Matthew SWANEPOEL (RSA) | Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG | 1:58.376 |
| 2 | 40 | James MUNRO (NZL) | Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG | +0.891 |
| 3 | 15 | Yuya MOTOJIMA (JPN) | Super License | +1.057 |
| 4 | 16 | Dan WELLS (GBR) | Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG | +1.592 |
| 5 | 44 | Aston HARE (RSA) | Meritus GP | +3.021 |
| 6 | 10 | Akhil RABINDRA (IND) | Meco Motorsport | +6.336 |
| 7 | 19 | Matthew SOLOMON (HKG) | Eurasia Motorsport | +7.223 |
| 8 | 88 | Anderson MARTONO (INA) | Meritus GP | +8.825 |
| 9 | 21 | Mandla MDAKANE (RSA) | Meritus GP | +8.828 |
| 10 | 18 | YUAN Bo (CHN) | Eurasia Motorsport | +8.870 |
| 11 | 36 | Yasuo Senna IRIAWAN (INA) | Humpuss Junior Racing Team | +10.729 |
| 12 | 17 | PU Jun Jin (CHN) | Eurasia Motorsport | +10.733 |
| 13 | 7 | Ronald WU (CHN) | Zen Motorsport | +10.832 |
| 14 | 29 | YIN Hai Tao (CHN) | Zen Motorsport | +11.198 |
| 15 | 6 | BAO Jin Long (CHN) | Zen Motorsport | +12.688 |
| 16 | 8 | Darma Mangkuluhur HUTOMO (INA) | Humpuss Junior Racing Team | +13.761 |
| 17 | 11 | HUA Miao (CHN) | Zen Motorsport | +14.532 |
| 18 | 20 | Sean HUDSPETH (SIN) | Eurasia Motorsport | +15.052 |