30 Jun 2017 Modified race car’s platform - Circuit Hero-Two Race 2

Pan Delta Circuit Hero-Two has always been the platform on which the car tuners of the Pearl River Delta gather to show off their wares. Even though there are factory prepared machinery, these modified cars are not out of place, sometimes they can outperform the factory cars. In the first race, A2 class winner Chen Bing-Xiong, driving his #18 Subaru BRZ, fought hard against a group of factory prepared TCR race cars.

The A3 and A5 classes are the gathering place for the car tuners. Although the modification level is not as high as A2 class, the high number of entries means they are highly competitive. With Circuit Hero-Two exerting more influence, the car tuners and enthusiasts see it as the best platform.

After the continuous downpour has finally come to a halt, in the afternoon of 18 June, the sky above Zhuhai International Circuit is now bright, but the track is still very wet. It will be hard to tell who is going to win.

At 14:30, the race begins under the guidance of the safety car. Shaanxi Tianshi Racing #55 Jiao Peng, Boom Gear Racing #77 Kuang Can-Wei and Cornerspeed Racing #6 Kang Zhe-Wei are in the top 3 positions. The safety car returns to the pits after one lap. But just one lap later, Song Veng Racing #12 Chen Yong-Tong goes off the track at T9, causing the return of the safety car. The safety car does not return to the pits again until there are just 4 laps of the race remaining. The order is #55 Jiao Peng, #77 Kuang Can-Wei and TRC Racing #21 Situ Yong-Xin, who has overtaken #6 Kang Zhe-Wei. Foshan Xiong-Ji Racing #18 Chen Bing-Xiong has moved up to 8th place from 15th.

Maybe the drivers are anxious to make up for lost time, many accidents happen after the safety car has left the track. 3 cars go off the circuit, including #18 Chen Bing-Xiong, his race car and Wei Li Racing #61 Xiao Jian-Jun crashed into each other and both have to retire from the race. As there are cars stranded on the circuit, the safety car has to intervene once more. There are just 3 laps remaining now. #55 Jiao Peng is still leading and TRC Racing #26 Huang Dong-Xiong is up to second and #6 Kang Zhe-Wei is back in third place. There are still accidents happening. With the race having completed its required distance, the race organizers decide to red flag the race.

A2 class #55 Jiao Peng wins after leading all the way. #26 Huang Dong-Xiong finishes second overall and A1 class winner. A3 class winner is Kang Zhe-Wei and he is third overall.

Jiao Peng said after the race that the wet conditions helped him win. His car still suffers from power deficiency in high temperatures. The relative cool weather allow the car to perform more consistently. The wet race also means other high power race cars cannot perform as well. A5 class winner Hu Jia-Xin also said the wet conditions are actually better for modified cars. Because the factory cars’ power advantage is not so clear as in the dry conditions.

In the points standings, A1 class leader Huang Dong-Xiong receives 16 points; in the A2 class #55 Jiao Peng gets to the top with an additional 18 points; for A3 class Kang Zhe-Wei did not enter race 1, so he is on 10 points; A5 class #85 Hu Jia-Xin likewise is also on 10 points. Please see the ZIC website for more information on points standings.

Circuit Hero-Two will hold race 3 in September. It is also the last race of the season. With the car tuners investing more time and effort in modifying their race cars, the competition will likely reach another level.