Martin Ragginger Wins Round One of 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

In Round One of the 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Martin Ragginger took victory at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit as part of Formula 1 support race yesterday.

Martin Ragginger of Team Eagle, led from pole to chequered flag over the 10 lap race, but was never given the chance to pull clear of his closest rival, crossing the line just over three tenths of a second ahead of Imperatori. Series newcomer, 22-year-old Earl Bamber of Nexus Racing surprised us for taking the final podium place in this race.

Fourth across the line was LKM Racing Team’s Keita Sawa of Japan, ahead of Team Jebsen’s Rodolfo Avila.  Budweiser Kamlung Racing’s Tung Ho-Pin crossed the line in 6th, but was later excluded for a technical infringement.

In Class B, it was category pole sitter Egidio Perfetti who took the win in his Mentos Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, finishing 7th overall amongst an intensely competitive field.  Second was OpenRoad Racing’s Francis Tjia ahead of newcomer, Alif Hamdan.  Hamdan was the top finishing of the three Malaysian drivers, Nexus Racing team mate Adrian Henry D’Silva going out early on in the race with a broken radiator, and Sime Darby Auto Performance guest driver, Fairuz Fauzy, succumbing to pressure from a hard-charging Avila.  Fauzy rejoined the race, but was unable to climb back through the field before the flag as we expected.

As the lights went out and the season got underway as part of the 2013 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX Ragginger bolted off the grid, holding the lead into Turn 1.  Behind him, Imperatori dived past Bamber and up to second, while Avila passed Tung on the outside. Tung went off at Turn 5 after a tangle with Team Yongda Dongfang’s Benjamin Rouget, before regaining his position.

Francis Tjia diced with Hamdan for Class B runner-up position, the pair putting on thrilling battle for the crowds.  Tjia won the day this time, claiming second, but the stage is set for a thrilling season in the category.

But it was the fight for victory which had the crowds on their feet, with Imperatori piling on the pressure in a desperate bid to claim the psychologically-significant opening win.  Ragginger held firm, despite the lock-up on the penultimate lap giving a clue as to the intensity of the fight.

After the dramatic race in Malaysia, where the entire 25-strong field put on a display of GT racing at its finest, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia will be back in action next month @ 2013 FORMULA 1 UBS CHINESE GRAND PRIX in Shanghai from 12-14 April 2013.

2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

Round 1 Results

*Non-series registered 

Fastest Lap: Alexandre Imperatori/PICC Team StarChase/2:12.046/Lap 4

Points After Round 1

Overall

Class B