Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia – Singapore 2013

16.09.13
Glittering Showcase for Sportscar Stars in Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia.

Shanghai, China.  As motorsport fans all over the world look forward to the most glittering weekend of racing on the international calendar, the region’s finest sportscar drivers are heading to the Lion City for the Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia – Singapore 2013 at the FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX from September 20-22.

With long-time series partner, luxury Singapore property developer SC Global Developments, once again taking race title sponsorship, the annual showcase on the achingly picturesque city track has become a firm favourite across Asia and beyond.

The formidable international line-up of 25 drivers, each driving an identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, must negotiate the unforgiving Marina Bay street circuit.  Its tight chicanes and fast corners, which cut between buildings and the city’s harbour front, combined with the tropical conditions present an unusual set of challenges.

Whatever awaits the field though, all will be out for victory, while eight have important championship matters to attend to as well.  Counting as Round 10 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2013 season, the series’ 11th, sensational newcomer Earl Bamber of New Zealand tops the overall championship leaderboard heading to Singapore.  With three rounds to go, the Nexus Racing driver has a slim 13 point advantage over Austrian Martin Ragginger of Team Eagle. Both have four victories to their names this season, and each has seen his share of bad luck, but the intense rivalry between the pair is a recipe for excitement.

However the 2013 championship is far from a two-horse race, with three other ambitious talented drivers still in with a shot at the title: Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila of Macau has an impressive five podium finishes so far this season and is well within striking distance of the top spot; it is an unwise man who takes his eye off Japanese driver Keita Sawa, series champion in 2011, and both talented and experienced; while a maiden victory in Round 8 from Budweiser Kamlung Racing star Tung Ho-Pin marked a watershed for the Chinese driver.

While Frenchman Benjamin Rouget of Team Yongda Dongfang, series newcomer Jason Zhang Zhiqiang of Team C&D, and reigning champion Alexandre Imperatori of PICC Team StarChase may be out of contention for the overall title this season, they will be on the hunt for glory at the Singapore Formula 1 showcase event. 

While the battle for overall honours is fierce, in the category for non-professional racers the chase is on to halt the so-far unbeatable run of Mentos Racing’s Egidio Perfetti. On astounding form, Perfetti has won all but one of the nine races so far this season in his near-perfect run. 

Despite Perfetti’s remarkable performance however, two drivers could still snatch the Class B title.  China’s Li Chao of Asia Racing Team and Singapore’s own Yuey Tan of Dorr McElrea Racing could still mathematically spoil the party for Perfetti. Li has shown impressive consistency this season, finishing in the points in every single race, while a DNF earlier this year put a dent in Tan’s title aspirations, it in no way diminished the ebullient driver’s determination.

A hot prospect for the race victory though must be SC Global Racing’s Craig Baird of New Zealand, winner of the race for the last two years. Despite not starting from pole last year, Baird proved unstoppable, setting the fastest lap on his way to the flag.

An unknown amongst the field will be German Mario Farnbacher, standing in at Team Betterlife for former driver Wang Jian Wei who has departed from the series for personal reasons.  Farnbacher, 21, was mentored by Michael Schumacher during his karting days before graduating to sportscars, via an impressive single seater career, in 2012. He makes his debut with Asia’s premier sportscar championship in Singapore, and is contesting his second ADAC GT Master season this year in a Porsche 911 GT3 R.

With everything to race for against the sparkling metropolis of the Singapore skyline, and in front of the biggest names in international motorsports, the Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia – Singapore 2013 is ready to take the Lion City by storm.

 

Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia – Singapore 2013

Provisional Entry List – Round 10

No

Driver/Nationality

Class

Entrant/Nationality

3

*Craig BAIRD (NZL)

 

SC Global Racing (SIN)

5

Yuey TAN (SIN)

B

Dorr McElrea Racing (SIN)

7

Earl BAMBER (NZL)

 

Nexus Racing (MAS)

8

Benjamin ROUGET (FRA)

 

Team Yongda Dongfang (CHN)

9

*Mario FARNBACHER (GER)

 

Team Betterlife (CHN)

11

Ringo CHONG (SIN)

 

Team Kangshun (CHN)

16

Wayne SHEN (HKG)

 

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

18

Marcel TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

20

Rodolfo AVILA (MAC)

 

Team Jebsen (HKG)

21

Francis TJIA (HKG)

B

OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

22

SIU Yuk Lung (HKG)

 

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

27

Adrian Henry D’SILVA (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

28

John SHEN (HKG)

B

Modena Motorsports (HKG)

33

Samson CHAN (HKG)

B

Samson CHAN (HKG)

38

Keita SAWA (JPN)

 

LKM Racing Team (HKG)

58

TUNG Ho-Pin (CHN)

 

Budweiser Kamlung Racing (MAS)

66

Jason ZHANG Zhiqiang (CHN)

 

Team C&D (CHN)

68

LI Zhi Cong (CHN)

 

Kamlung Racing (MAS)

72

Alif HAMDAN (MAS)

B

Nexus Racing (MAS)

78

ZHANG Da Sheng (CHN)

 

Basetex Racing (CHN)

83

Dr. MA Chi Min (HKG)

B

Dr. Ma Chi Min (HKG)

86

Martin RAGGINGER (AUT)

 

Team Eagle (CHN)

88

Egidio PERFETTI (SIN)

B

Mentos Racing (SIN)

96

LI Chao (CHN)

B

Asia Racing Team (CHN)

99

Alexandre IMPERATORI (HKG)

 

PICC Team StarChase (HKG)

*Non-series registered

 

  Points after Round 9 (top 5)

  Overall

Pos

Comp No

Driver

Entrant

Points

1

7

Earl BAMBER

Nexus Racing

157

2

86

Martin RAGGINGER

Team Eagle

144

3

20

Rodolfo AVILA

Team Jebsen

127

4

38

Keita SAWA

LKM Racing Team

109

5

58

TUNG Ho-Pin

Budweiser Kamlung Racing

103

 

  Class B

Pos

Comp No

Driver

Entrant

Points

1

88

Egidio PERFETTI

Team Mentos

182

2

96

LI Chao

Asia Racing Team

127

3

5

Yuey TAN

Dorr McElrea Racing

124

4

28

John SHEN

Modena Motorsports

102

5

72

Alif HAMDAN

Nexus Racing

90

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2013

Provisional Race Calendar

 

Date

Circuit, Country

Event

Round(s)

March 02 – 03

Sepang Intl. Circuit, Malaysia

Test Days

-

March 22 – 24

Sepang Intl. Circuit, Malaysia

Formula 1 Support Race

Round 1

April 12 – 14

Shanghai Intl. Circuit, China

Formula 1 Support Race

Round 2 & 3

May 03 – 05

Zhuhai Intl. Circuit, China

China GT Championship

Round 4 & 5

July 05 – 07

Ordos Intl. Circuit, China

China Touring Car Championship

Round 6 & 7

August 02 – 04

Inje Speedium Int. Circuit, Korea

Asian Le Mans Series

Round 8 & 9

September 20 – 22

Marina Bay Circuit, Singapore

Formula 1 Support Race

Round 10

October 25 – 27

Shanghai Intl. Circuit, China

Shanghai Sportscar Champions Festival*

Round 11 & 12

November 09 – 10

Guia Circuit, Macau SAR

Macau Grand Prix

Invitational

                                                                      * subject to confirmation of commercial agreement.

 

Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2013

Series Partners

Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since 1996. Close co-operation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cutting-edge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian based Motorsport Asia Ltd.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Stronger, wider, faster, the new version of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup - the bestselling race car in the world - was introduced in 2010. Based on the light-weight road-going version of the 911 GT3 RS, the body corresponds largely to the standard model, with Porsche modifying the aerodynamics for racing. The front spoiler lip has been lowered 15 millimetres, providing significantly more downforce. Rear downforce has also increased with the rear wing growing from 1.46 to 1.70 metres.

The engine is largely identical to the production unit in the 911 GT3 RS: with a capacity of 3.8 litres, the six-cylinder motor delivers 30 hp more than its predecessor. The power output is 450 bhp, with a maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.

The racing exhaust features a fully controlled catalytic converter. Via a ZF Friedrichshafen AG race clutch, a sequential six-speed dog-type gearbox and a limited slip differential, the engine power is transmitted to the rear axle.

With the rear body 44-millimetres broader than standard, there is sufficient space for wider wheels. The front axle comes with three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18). The one-piece light-alloy rims on the rear axle grew an inch to 12 J x 18.

Anti-roll bars front and rear, now adjustable to seven different positions, allow an even more precise set-up. The camber, track, ride height, and rear wing can be adjusted within the regulations.

About Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

Now in its 11th season, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia blasted off the starting grid in 2003 and has never looked back. Joining the family of hugely successful Porsche “one make” series, it is now firmly established as the Number One racing series in Asia.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia offers extremely exciting racing across the region and is truly international, with competitors from all over Asia as well as Europe and the Pacific. The field is made up of a combination of professional race drivers and ambitious and talented gentlemen drivers.

About Porsche China

Founded in Stuttgart, Germany in 1948 by Ferdinand Porsche, Porsche has long enjoyed a unique reputation as the most prestigious automobile brand worldwide. Under the guiding credo of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”, Porsche pioneers to provide a new generation of sports cars that prove performance and efficiency can be perfectly combine.

Since 2001, Porsche China has been importing the  full range of iconic Porsche sports cars that are imbued with the  sporting spirit of the marque: the  legendary 911 series, the renowned  Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars, the  superb Cayenne premium SUV,  and  the  exceptional  four-door Panamera Gran Turismo. Porsche China currently operates 56 Porsche Centres in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, ensuring that Porsche customers across the country receive the hallmark personalised care that differentiates Porsche around the world. In 2013, Porsche continues to enhance its success on the 2012 sales record of 31,205 deliveries across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Globally, Porsche also celebrates the 50th anniversary this year of its classic sports car icon, the 911 series.