MENZEL TAKES PORSCHE CARRERA CUP ASIA CROWN
2009-12-07 17:21:34 Author: admin Source:
Team StarChase driver Christian Menzel took the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Championship on Sunday by just a single point from Round 13 winner Tim Sugden of Britain.
Menzel, who started the 20-lap race with a three point advantage over Sugden, crossed the line second which was enough to clinch the title at his second time of trying. The final podium place of the last round of the season was taken by Asia Racing Team’s Rodolfo Avila of Macau, who put in a fighting performance to catch the front-runners after a less-than-perfect start.
Pole sitter, Team Jebsen’s Darryl O’Young, crossed the line fourth, putting him third in the championship, ahead of Avila and Dutchman Danny Chu. Team PCS Racing’s Mok Weng Sun rounded out an excellent weekend with a 5th place finish, ahead of Dutchman Danny Chu, while Jeffrey Lee of Team PTRS Motorsport was 9th overall.
Off the start, O’Young lost the lead to Sugden going in to turn one. Behind him, Menzel was on a charge to the championship win that was nothing short of fast and furious.
For a while O’Young and Menzel were engaged in their own fight, leaving Sugden to pull away at the front, but the Briton’s comfort zone was soon shattered when he saw the German overtake O’Young to go second at turn one on lap three.
The three were evenly matched for several laps, before O’Young eased off with an engine overheat warning. Menzel then closed in on his pray, lights flashing. Sugden wasn’t rattled however, and, knowing he needed a car between him and Menzel, just prayed for someone to catch the German.
Mid-way through the 20-lap race, while Menzel was dancing all over the back of Sugden and O’Young was keeping up with the pair, Macau’s Avila suddenly charged into view, joining the fray having taken full advantage of the pitch battle at the sharp end to close in.
Avila took the fight to O’Young, passing the reigning champion. The Team Jebsen ace wasn’t going to give up the final podium place easily, but a spin on lap 18 saw his chances dashed.
Try as he might, Avila couldn’t get close enough to Menzel to put himself between Sugden and the StarChase driver in the final dash to the finish. While Sugden could console himself with the final victory of the season, it was Menzel who was crowned the new Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion.
In earlier Round 12, defending Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion Darryl O’Young blasted to victory to bring the Championship fight to the brink, between Menzel and Sugden with only three points to spare among the top two. Menzel was penalized 10 seconds by race officials following what was deemed to be an overly-aggressive move at the start, which ultimately was of no benefit to the German as he was placed 4th following a third place in the overall results. Avila was promoted to 3rd place.
The drama began off the start of the 20-lap race, when Menzel, starting from pole, moved across to defend his lead from Sugden, but the Briton held firm. As the pair were locked in battle, O’Young saw his chance and charged through to grab the lead. Menzel and Sugden were two abreast, with the German then going second.
From there, the trio embarked upon a race-long game of cat and mouse, with O’Young pulling a gap at the front, only to lose it as the embattled duo behind caught up. Sugden couldn’t find a way past Menzel, while the German found it impossible to retake the lead from O’Young.
The three Championship-contenders closed in on the backmarkers on Lap 16, and Sugden found his way past the German at turn six to go second. However, with four laps to go, Sugden wasn’t done and took the fight to O’Young who, head lamps blazing, was on a charge to the flag.
With a thrilling conclusion to the 2009 season, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will begin preparations for its eighth season, with a 12-race, seven-city calendar, a stunning new racing Porsche which, for the first time, is based on the street-legal 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, and new regulations which allow for the entry of private teams.
Results
Round 12
|
Pos.
|
Comp No.
|
Driver
|
Cls
|
Entrant
|
Time
|
|
1
|
55
|
Darryl O’YOUNG (HKG)
|
A
|
Team Jebsen (HKG)
|
22:30.847
|
|
2
|
88
|
Tim SUGDEN (GBR)
|
A
|
Tim Sugden (GBR)
|
+0.121
|
|
3
|
20
|
Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)
|
A
|
Asia Racing Team (MAC)
|
+5.661
|
|
4
|
99
|
Christian MENZEL (GER)
|
A
|
Team StarChase (CHN)
|
+10.472
|
|
5
|
33
|
MOK Weng Sun
|
A
|
Team PCS Racing (SIN)
|
+19.888
|
|
6
|
69
|
Melvin CHOO (SIN)
|
B
|
Corum ThunderAsia Racing (SIN)
|
+20.085
|
|
7
|
16
|
Danny CHU (NED)
|
A
|
Stichting Chu Racing (INA)
|
+35.776
|
|
8
|
98
|
Philip MA (HKG)
|
B
|
Jacob & Co Racing Team (HKG)
|
+48.670
|
|
9
|
7
|
Jeffrey LEE (TPE)
|
A
|
PTRS Racing (CHN)
|
+55.477
|
|
10
|
59
|
*Philip BRIANDET (SIN)
|
B
|
Philip Briandet (SIN)
|
1 Lap
|
|
11
|
5
|
Yuey TAN YuHian (SIN)
|
B
|
Team PCS Racing (SIN)
|
1 Lap
|
|
12
|
68
|
MAK Hing Tak (HKG)
|
B
|
OMAK Team (HKG)
|
1 Lap
|
Round 13
|
Pos.
|
Comp No.
|
Driver
|
Cls
|
Entrant
|
Time
|
|
1
|
88
|
Tim SUGDEN (GBR)
|
A
|
Tim Sugden (GBR)
|
22:40.412
|
|
2
|
99
|
Christian MENZEL (GER)
|
A
|
Team StarChase (CHN)
|
+0.321
|
|
3
|
20
|
Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)
|
A
|
Asia Racing Team (MAC)
|
+0.677
|
|
4
|
55
|
Darryl O’YOUNG (HKG)
|
A
|
Team Jebsen (HKG)
|
+9.087
|
|
5
|
33
|
MOK Weng Sun
|
A
|
Team PCS Racing (SIN)
|
+13.982
|
|
6
|
16
|
Danny CHU (NED)
|
A
|
Stichting Chu Racing (INA)
|
+14.739
|
|
7
|
69
|
Melvin CHOO (SIN)
|
B
|
Corum ThunderAsia Racing (SIN)
|
+15.493
|
|
8
|
98
|
Philip MA (HKG)
|
B
|
Jacob & Co Racing Team (HKG)
|
+37.234
|
|
9
|
7
|
Jeffrey LEE (TPE)
|
A
|
PTRS Racing (CHN)
|
+40.017
|
|
10
|
5
|
Yuey TAN YuHian (SIN)
|
B
|
Team PCS Racing (SIN)
|
+55.684
|
|
11
|
59
|
*Philip BRIANDET (SIN)
|
B
|
Philip Briandet (SIN)
|
+1:04.650
|
|
12
|
68
|
MAK Hing Tak (HKG)
|
B
|
OMAK Team (HKG)
|
+1:05.100
|
