16 Jun 2012 2012 Pan Delta Super Racing Festival (Summer Race) - Cool weather on qualifying day

On Saturday 16 June 2012, the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival (Summer Race) kicks-off as usual, on the third weekend of June. A downpour washed away the heat of the last few days and made things rather more difficult for the drivers in today's qualifying sessions.

Every motorsport fan knows that racing in the rain is usually more exciting, while drivers prefer dry weather. Rain normally brings with it more accidents. Water on track will result in greater braking distances and affects the race car's performance.

The race drivers are confused about what tyres to use. Should they go for wets or intermediates? But this confusion is all gone in the afternoon. A downpour arrived with the qualifying session and drivers have no option but use wet tyres. The only disappointment was the rocket car that was supposed to perform before qualifying started. The machine was pushed off the track mere seconds after it emerged on the track. It was simply too dangerous to run it in this weather condition. The friendly cheer from the grandstand was well received by the driver, who came up to waved his hand to apologize.

The rocket car may not be able to run, but the show must go on. Fortunately when the ZIC Superbike brigrade entered the track, the rain has stopped and the sky has become clear. But the standing water on track was still a problem. The bikes cause a lot of spray behind them, much like the wake of speedboats. After two sessions of qualifying, Huang Shi-Zhao takes pole position behind him are his teamate Li Zheng-Peng and Tianyu DTU Racing's Huang Zhi-Yu.

Because a total of 42 cars have entered Circuit Hero Two, the organizers decided to split the cars into two classes. After the rain subsided a little, it began pouring again. That did not dampen the drivers spirits and the action was fast and furious. Under the extreme weather conditions, a good starting position is hugely important as the further ahead you are, the less water spray you will run into. Therefore while the competitors spread themselves out, they are all running as fast as they can, as the number of drivers who spin out testify. With the intervention of the safety car many times, the session was successfully completed, with Wei Chao-Yin and He Wei-Hang taking the front row starting positions.

At about 5pm, the rain finally stopped, but the track was still very wet. Circuit Hero One's qualifying session begins at last. Maybe the drivers have seen the number of accidents in Circuit Hero Two, they are very prudent. In the end, Wei Chao-Yin, who competes in both categories, takes his second pole position of the day.

The downpour at noon washed away all the heat of the morning, bringing everyone much cooler temperatures. In tomorrow's race, with rain once again likely, who can tell if the pole position winner can convert that into a race win? Come and find out at the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival (Summer Race)!