25 July 2007

SCC Racing China’s Christian Jones took his maiden Porsche Carrera Cup Asia win today after a drama-filled 15-lap race at Indonesia’s Sentul International Circuit.

Second across the line in Class A, and for the second time today, was Keita Sawa (right) who once again put in a stellar performance but was denied victory although he now leads the overall championship.

Third was Hong Kong’s Marchy Lee taking his third podium in just four series outings, the first for the Child’s Dream charity foundation, and setting the fastest lap in the process.

In Class B, Australian Peter Boylan (above left) continued his superb form taking the honours and going to the top of the championship standings. Second in the category for non-professional racers was Malaysia’s Tunku Hammam (above right) ahead of Hong Kong’s William “Chip” Connor.

Sawa now has a six point lead over GruppeM Racing’s Tim Sugden in Class A, with Jones just eight points behind the Briton. In Class B, Boylan leads the standings with a four point margin over Mok Weng Sun of Singapore, with Connor only one point adrift in 3rd.

Class A leader going in Round 6, Sugden started from pole position but it was Sawa who was in the lead by the first turn.

After Sugden (left) snatched victory in the dying moments of the earlier race, Sawa was determined the win was his and set about pulling away. Meanwhile, the Briton had to hold off Jones.

Lee had a bad start from fourth on the grid and dropped behind fellow Hong Kong driver Alain Li.

However, that was short-lived and the series returnee was soon on a charge to the leaders, while Li was left to battle Team Vertu’s Nigel Albon (right).

At the front, Sugden had closed the gap, as had Jones, and the trio were bunched in a tense battle, with the Briton desperately trying to find a way past the determined Sawa, Jones piling on the pressure to Sugden, and Lee keeping a safe distance in 4th. Finally Sugden made a decisive move which subsequently saw him collide with Sawa, sustaining visible damage to his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.

Jones inherited the lead, while Sawa and Lee came close to a collision which the pair skillfully avoided. Despite the impact and resulting affect on performance, Sawa kept the car going to take 2nd place, with a delighted Lee in 3rd.

Jones was pleased to have taken his first win in his debut Porsche season, saying: “I wanted to show some of the form I had in practice. I put pressure on Tim and he rushed into a move and made a mistake, so it worked.”

Arguably the most exhausted man at the track, having put in two extraordinary performances as well as survived an incident, Sawa was nonetheless already looking ahead to the next rounds – and the chance to finally secure a win: “I had a very good start, and then mid-race Tim attacked. I really thought I could win this race, but I’m always second. After the incident, I couldn’t keep the same pace.”

Sawa had shown incredible pace all weekend, from practice and qualifying onwards. He explained: “I have a new style for my car set up, and I’m looking forward to the next race!” He had set out to get this championship campaign back on track and, despite not taking a win, that’s precisely what he did.

Boylan thoroughly enjoyed his enormously successful weekend in particular “mixing it with the “A’s” for a couple of laps”, while Hammam was relieved to have held on to 2nd place having worried the pressure might get to him in the closing stages.

[View Results & Standings]

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia next travels to China for the remainder of the season, with Rounds 7 and 8 to be held at the brand new race track in Chengdu on September 16.