20 Sep 2014 Munro races clear of the FMCS pack as Round 5 kicks off at the Zhuhai International Circuit
(Zhuhai, China – 19 September 2014) Seventeen-year-old New Zealander James Munro of Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG today extended his lead in the Formula Masters China Series (FMCS) with victory in Race 13 as Round 5 got under way at the Zhuhai International Circuit.
After starting the race in the second row of the grid, Munro was able to tuck himself in behind Australian Jake Parsons, the 19-year-old Meritus.GP driver who started on pole.
Munro then took the race in front of two drivers who made it to the FMCS podium for the first time – the Zen Motorsport pairing of 20-year-old Hong Kong driver Ronald Wu and Yin Hai Tao, who also finished the race as Best Chinese Driver.
The win extended Munro’s lead in the FMCS Drivers Classification to 34 points over Matthew Solomon (18) of Eurasia Motorsport while Yin’s finish saw him move into second place behind Eurasia Motorsport’s Yuan Bo in the race for the FMCS Best Chinese Driver Trophy.
Bo had started the race sharing the front of the grid with pole-sitter Parsons – who crossed the line first, with Bo third - but both drivers were handed a 30-second jump-start penalty.
A reflection of just how competitive FMCS has become in its second season was the fact that less than one second separated the first 12 cars in earlier qualifying for tomorrow’s Race 15 – a feat race officials at the track here claimed was the tightest qualifying session they had ever witnessed.
In fact it was a day of firsts for the FMCS as Yin and the Star Racing Academy’s Bo became the first two Chinese drivers to qualify for the FMCS’ pole position thanks to Yin’s fastest lap in Race 13 and Bo’s performance in the earlier second session of qualifying.
The pair will start in pole for Saturday’s Races 14 (7 laps) and 15 (12 laps), respectively, while the rescheduled Race 3 (12 laps) is set for Sunday.
Driver Quotes:
James Munro/Cebu Pacific Air by KCMG/Winner Race 13
“It’s great to back on the top step. I had a bit of a dry spell after winning six consecutive races at the start of the season, so it’s a great feeling. It went smoothly for me today. I was able to move in behind Jake [Parsons] knowing I didn’t really have to overtake him after he jumped the start. So I just maintained my position and I look forward to having another great day tomorrow.”
Ronald Wu/Zen Motorsport/2nd Race 13
“Today was an eventful race for me as I have never been on the podium before. This is my first time and it is an amazing feeling. It’s really a payback for the team because we struggled in the last round in Sepang and didn’t have the opportunity to show our potential. So second place here is amazing.”
Yin Hai Tao/Zen Motorsport/3rd Race 13, Pole Race 14
“To have two on the podium for this team for the first time makes me very proud and very happy. We have worked very hard for the whole season and today we got something back for that. Step by step we are getting faster and I had fastest lap so to be on pole for Race 14 makes me very happy as well.”
Yuan Bo/Eurasia Motorsport/Pole Race 15
“I am very happy that I have taken my first pole in the FMCS. Now I just have to stay focused and get myself up to a podium finish.”