Swiss driver Alexandre Imperatori kept his perfect start to the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season, with a win in round three, the first of two races this weekend at Zhuhai, China.
As in the season openers at Shanghai, Imperatori had to take the lead after starting second on the grid, after losing out to LKM Racing driver Darryl O'Young. The poleman's advantage lasted only seconds off the line, before Imperatori's Team StarChase car was infront.
“The crucial moment for me was the start,” said Imperatori. “I knew that it was the only chance for me to get ahead. I managed that, so it was 50% of the job done.”
O'Young tried to give chase, logging the fastest lap of the race, but Imperatori was able to cope with the challenges when they came.
As the race entered its final stages O'Young picked up a puncture. The resulting retirement ended the driver's hopes of making up lost ground, and with Imperatori in irresistible form he was already contemplating a championship lost after the race.
“It's a big blow for the championship,” he said. “It's two weekends in a row that something happened and at the moment, the championship isn't looking so good. We'll be fighting hard from the back for the second race, and hopefully earn the maximum amount of points possible tomorrow.”
O'Young's demise gave second place to LKM teammate Keita Sawa, who continued the chase, crossing the line less than a second adrift after the end of the 12 lap event. The final spot on the podium went to Rodolfo Avila.
Wang Jian Wei led home the Class B runners in an impressive outing, just 20 seconds behind the winner. He was helped to his second consecutive win when poleman Davide Rizzo went off into the gravel early in his race debut.
