08 Oct 2014 Circuit Hero One Race 1: Li Qing-Xin s fantastic time
On 20 September 2014, Pan Delta Super Racing Festival (Autumn Race) is held at China's first permanant racing circuit. At 2:45 pm, one of Pan Delta's most popular race series, Circuit Hero One, is ready for the first race of the weekend. The entries include fast sports cars from Ferrari, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche and Subaru, promising a very good race.
Pan Deltas Circuit Hero has always been about local drivers modifying and tuning their own cars. From this, a group of local racers have taken root in the area and they are steadily building up a market for motorsports. The entries have grown in number and now there are Circuit Hero One, Circuit Hero Two A and Circuit Hero Two B race series. Circuit Hero One is reserved for entries with higher power and highly modified. With these supercars on show, the race is now undoubtedly one of the more popular races.
The race begins bang on time. The bright sun and high track temperature should not be too much of a problem for this group of experienced drivers. Zhang Shan-Qi, driving a Ferrari 458, is on pole position, besides him is Jonathan Flinn's Radical SR1. On row two, Robert Buchheit's Porsche 997 lies just ahead of Scott Wrayton's TTX. Other familiar drivers such as Li Qing-Xin and Xu Xin are also on the grid.
The race begins and Zhang Shan-Qi makes a good start to keep first place. Robert Buchheit gets up to second ahead of Jonathan Flinn. Jonathan mysteriously slows down half a lap later and is bumped by Li Qing-Xin. The little accident forces him to gives up third place.
On lap two, Jonathan Flinn regains third place from Li Qing-Xin. But Scott Wrayton suddenly slows down, apparently with mechanical trouble.
On lap 4, Zhang Shan-Qi runs steadily at the front, leading Robert Buchheit by 4 seconds. Jonathan Flinn is still third. Scott Wrayton and Li Qing-Xin are some 10 seconds back in 4th and 5th. No. 26 Field Lee John is picking up speed and soon he passes Li Qing-Xin for 5th.
On lap 5 the leaders begin to lap the backmarkers. This has slowed them down a little. The two Ariel Atoms are enjoying a good, clean battle. The drivers are evenly matched.
The order seems to have settled down. Zhang Shan-Qi then manages a fastest lap of 1:43.745. Li Qing-Xin is still challenging Field Lee John, with two laps to go, Li pulls up to the inside line at the last corner, trying to find a way pass. But Field straightaway defends himself, the two cars run closely with each other along the main straight, giving the crowd a great spectacle. Both drivers try to outbrake each other into turn 1, but with Field on the inside line Li's attack fails and he runs into the sand trap and out of the race.
At the chequered flag, Zhang Shan-Qi wins the race quite comfortably with Jonathan Flinn finishing second. Robert Buchheit takes third place. Although Li Qing-Xin retires from the race, his relentless pursuit and battle with Field Lee John has gained him many admirers in the crowd. Li Qing-Xin's performance really stole the show.