Kiwi driver Chris van der Drift makes a return to the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Series in Shanghai this weekend. The 2015 series champion will compete for Team Formax at the Shanghai Circuit in China as part of the support classes for the Formula On Grand Prix. Joining him on the grid are Will Bamber, brother to Porsche LMP1 Factory driver Earl, as well as 2014 Toyota Racing Series winner Andrew Tang from Singapore.
With the entry list confirmed, 24 drivers from 12 different countries and regions will form what appears to be one of the toughest, youngest grids in the series‘ 14-year history. A perfect blend of professional and pro-am drivers will compete in identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991) race cars on the 5.451 -km Shanghai International Circuit as Round 1 and 2 kick off the season during the weekend from April 7 – 9.
The first two rounds will also see the debut of the Porsche Dealer Trophy, an entirely new championship that will see the best performing dealer driver awarded after each round.
Making a notable return to the series after a year away is 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Chris van der Drift, who returns to the competition to race with Team Formax. He will be greeted by experienced series regular Martin Ragginger of Team Porsche Holding who joins for the full season after several guest appearances in 2016 and Team C&D’s Yuan Bo, the 2016 Pro-Am winner now racing professionally in the Overall class.
The inaugural race weekend will see several new faces compete, with numerous young drivers coming from single-seat racing to contend in their first-ever GT races. Posting impressive times during the Test Days in March, young drivers such as Porsche Formula Master China Series winner Philip Hamprecht, racing for Team Starchase, FAW T2 Motorsport’s Will Bamber, Team Force Asia Racing‘s Akash Neil Nandy and Absolute Racing‘s Tanart Sathienthirakul will all be rearing to prove themselves during their first race.
They come prepared after attending a pre-season training session held shortly after the Test Days as part of the expanded Porsche China Junior Programme – the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Talent Pool, which gives all drivers under 26 access to star coaching and the chance earn a place to compete in the global Porsche Junior Shootout.
Carrying the banner for the Porsche China Junior Team for his second year, the super-talented Andrew Tang enters the first two rounds as a seasoned pro, having learned for the Shanghai International Circuit in 2016. He is joined by new 2017 Porsche China Junior Team driver Zhang Dashang, who was appointed as a Porsche China Junior after finishing the 2016 season as the top Chinese driver.
They will join the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Talent Pool in receiving exclusive coaching by renowned Porsche Junior Coach Sascha Maassen during Round 1 and 2.
The first two rounds could also prove a chance for a strong start for the series‘ other two experienced professional Chinese drivers, Cui Yue of Team Jebsen and Zheng Tong Auto’s Bao Jinlong, after both performed admirably in 2016.
With 45% professional and 55% Pro-Am, the diverse line-up of gentleman drivers are poised for an equally thrilling first two rounds of the season.
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