Asia Racing Team and Stuvik keep on top

Asia Racing Team’s Sandy Stuvik kept his lead in the AFR Championship this Saturday, following his third consecutive double second place finish of the season.  The young Thai heads into the short summer break with a 27 point lead in the championship. Teammates Tin Sritrai and Chi Cong Li also enjoyed solid races with both finishing in points scoring positions at the Shanghai International Circuit.

For everyone in the AFR Championship paddock it was a particularly tough weekend. The race activities scheduled for 15 of August were all transferred to Saturday 14th of August as People’s Republic of China decided to mourn on Sunday 15th of August the victims of the devastating mudslide in northwestern Gansu Province. The weekend was condensed and cut short, with two free practice sessions, one qualifying and two 10-lap races scheduled for one day only. Due to the tight timetable, the team managers agreed that half points were rewarded in the second race.

Stuvik took his first pole position of the 2010 AFR Championship season in emphatic style in a gripping and action packed qualifying session at the home of Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix. The 15-year-old Thai banged in a lap that was an impressive 0.7s clear of his nearest rival in a session that had been extremely close at the top.

Lining up on pole for the second time in his Formula Renault career, Stuvik didn’t make a good getaway and got surprised by Cao Hong Wei. Until the end the youngest driver of the field put the leader under extreme pressure but he didn’t find a way to pass him. In the Race 2, as the lights went out, Stuvik made a stunning start to challenge Cao for the lead off the line.  Stuvik was forced wide onto the dirt part of the track, but managed to hold his place although couldn’t quite make it past Cao as the duo led the field into the first corner. Bravely Stuvik would manage to overtake Cao on lap 2 but, unfortunately, his rival would get back the first position after just one lap. The Asia Racing Team man never gives up and set the quickest lap and again remained in touch with race leader until the end while keeping a good distance to third place man.

Starting from ninth on the grid in Race 1, Sritrai, who spun in the closing stages of the race, made up one place till the checkered flag. In Race 2, the Asian karting hero was unable to follow up on his quick pace in testing but a clean race allowed him to finish 9th. He is now lying 6th overall, two places behind his team mate Chi Cong Li.

Struggling for speed down the Shanghainese straights, due to an engine problem beyond the team control, Chi Cong Li had a tough weekend. Despite the lack of speed, the Chinese racer did 7th in the qualifying, and, after a storming start, was lapping in 5th when, due to a spin, was left stranded for 45 seconds before his car powered back into life again, leaving him at the back of the field in Race 1. The Guangzhou-born driver managed to finish 16th. In the second race, Chi Cong Li made the most of his 10 laps on track to make his way back through the field, passing his teammate Sritrai for 8th on the final laps.

More than everyone else Naomi Zhang Ran felt the effects of the high temperatures (above 40 C) in Shanghai this weekend but gritted his teeth and accomplished her mission of finishing the races and scoring points with 14th place in Race 1. On her second single seater race weekend, the Beijing female driver improved her pace, and ran a clean race with no mistakes.

Asia Racing Team is still leading both the drivers’ and teams’ championships with six podiums achieved. The next race of AFR Championship will take place on the Zhuhai circuit in China from 16 to 18 of September.

#3 Tin Sritrai (THA):

Qualifying: 9th
Race 1: 8th
Race 2: 9th

“It was my first time in Shanghai circuit and I couldn’t find a suitable setup for the track. I am not happy with my results because I know I can do better. I spun in Race 1 and in Race 2 the car was oversteering too much. Now I’m looking forward to the next race at Zhuhai and I really hope to go there in better shape.”

#6 Zhang Ran (CN):

Qualifying: 16th
Race 1: 14th
Race 2: 15th

“By the end of the day I felt tired and high temperatures were a problem all day. I am still in learning process how to drive a formula car, and Shanghai race weekend was a great experience. You have to keep working hard, and keep putting your time in.”

#9 Chi Cong Li (CN):

Qualifying: 7th
Race 1: 16th
Race 2: 8th

Chi Cong Li: “My car was 10km/h slower in the straight lines, and due to the circumstances I am happy with what I have done at the track today.  In Race 1 I was lucky to get back on track, and in Race 2 I did what was possible to be done. We will test in Zhuhai soon to prepare the next race of the season. I know I can count with the full support of my new team.”

#15 Sandy Stuvik (THA):

Qualifying: 1st
Race 1: 2nd
Race 2: 2nd

“The championship is my goal and my focus, but of course I would have enjoyed most if I had win today. I was quicker than Cao, but although I set him under pressure for numerous laps, I didn’t find a way to overtake him in both races. Anyway I believe we have great chances of winning in Zhuhai.”

ASIA RACING TEAM targets strong Shanghai weekend

Asia Racing Team is targeting a strong weekend at the stunning Shanghai International Circuit this weekend as the AFR Championship season reaches the halfway point.

While the team hopes to carry the good momentum into this weekend’s third season round, before heading back to home soil at Zhuhai, 16th-18th September, it will do so with the services of Sandy Stuvik, Tin Sritrai, Naomi Zhang Ran and the recently signed Chi Cong Li.

The Macau’s Zhuhai based team objective for the weekend is to come home with as many points as possible to keep the advantage in both Drivers’ and Teams’ standings.

Stuvik has built a leading margin of 32 points ahead of the second best, while teammate Sritrai lies fourth, a further 40 points behind. The Hermann Tilke-designed track, home of the Chinese Grand Prix, is a new challenge for the 15 years old Thai driver who is looking to score heavy points to consolidate his leadership in the AFR Championship.

Reigning Asian Karting Champion Sritrai has been having an up and down season - his first in single seaters.  The talented Thai driver still has plenty to fight for as the season’s midpoint approaches, and he will look to step onto the top of the AFR Championship podium in the “Super Challenge Show of Shanghai”.

Following her single seater debut in Chengdu, Naomi Zhang Ran has been working hard to improve her performance, having tested in Zhuhai and Shanghai in this past two weeks. The Beijing-born Ran hopes to get a solid finish in both races and some good points on the board this weekend.

17 year-old Chi Cong Li proved himself one to watch in 2010 in only his second year of formula racing. The Chinese youngster won the second race of the 2010 season, and will join Asia Racing Team for the very first time at Shanghai.

Speaking about the weekend ahead, Asia Racing Team’s Team Manager Philippe Descombes said, “The team is as motivated as ever to do well. Whilst we have high hopes for the weekend, but we must keep our feet firmly on the ground, because as we all know, motorsport is a highly unpredictable sport. Each and every member of the team will do his job to 100% of his ability and we will see where that takes us by Sunday evening.”

Track action for the AFR competitors will start on Thursday with six 30-minute non–official free practices until Friday afternoon. The official free practice will follow on Saturday morning, with the Qualifying session taking place from 14.20. The first of the two 10 lap races is on Sunday 09.00 and race two is at 11.55.

Chi Cong Li steps in for Asia Racing Team

Chinese racer Chi Cong Li will race in Asia Racing Team in this weekend AFR Championship at the Shanghai International Circuit, lining up alongside ART’s regulars Sandy Stuvik, Tin Sritrai and Naomi Zhang Ran.

17 year-old Chi Cong Li proved himself one to watch in 2010 in only his second year of formula racing.  6th in 2009 AFR Championship, the Chinese youngster is fast becoming a driver to watch for the future, having won the second race of this season’s series in Zhuhai, and several Lightweight Sportscar Championship races in the beginning of his career.

Asia Racing Team’s Team Manager, Philippe Descombes commented: “We watched Chi Cong Li progress last year and he’s already attracted a lot of interest in the industry.  He was one of our strongest opponents. I’m delighted that he’s chosen ART as the team with which to further his career. I’m confident he will be challenging for podiums and victories this season.”

Asia Racing Team is currently leading both the drivers’ and teams’ championships and has four podiums. The next race of AFR Championship will take place on the Shanghai circuit in China from 13 to 15 of August.

Asia Racing Team’s Sandy Stuvik becomes the one to beat

Asia Racing Team’s Sandy Stuvik extended his AFR Championship lead with two second places finishes on a race weekend that featured sunshine, rain, wind and plenty of action at the Chengdu International Circuit. With two podiums during his first visit to the “City of Hibiscus”, the Thai rookie is looking like the man to beat.

History said that Asia Racing Team monopolizes pole-position at Chengdu, but this year it didn’t happen. Nevertheless Stuvik impressed with a second on his first qualifying attempt in the bumpy Sichuan Province permanent track. The young Thai reckoned he should have been closer but was prepared to admit that pole-position time was out of range. After a thorny Free-Practice on Thursday and Friday, country fellow Tin Sritrai got over it and managed to get the fourth spot in the grid. Further back, “Naomi” Zhang Ran was just tenth as baffled by her lack of pace.

Race 1 saw Stuvik playing for the championship, and securing a significant second place. Bearing in mind that the poleman and upcoming Race 1 winner was a guest driver, the 15 years old Thai didn’t take any risk to fight for the first position. His pace was enough to leave the third placed far away from his tail. Sritrai had a much more eventful race. A bad start almost cost him a position but a quick bounce back and a good defensive maneuver in the last corner were rewarded with a fourth. Following the team instructions Zhang Ran made it to the checkered flag to finish her first ever single seaters race. The local female star Zhang Ran was ninth for a while but lost the spot in the last lap when her opponent took advantage of the blue flags right before the “Esses” to overtake the first female driver of the Macau’s Zhuhai based team.

On Sunday Stuvik repeated the second place with another strong performance, but not wanting to take any unnecessary risks on such a tough track, comfortably finished the race in the podium, happy to scoop vital points to retain a sufficient points margin to lead the championship. Unable to maintain his position at the start of Race 2, Sritrai dropped back to sixth. The AKOC champion would get back one of the lost positions until the to finish fifth. On the other hand, “Naomi” endured another inauspicious race, making a good start and a strong first lap only to be torpedoed by an overambitious late brake in the chicane.

Asia Racing Team is currently leading both the drivers’ and teams’ championships and has four podiums. The next race of AFR Championship will take place on the Shanghai circuit in China from 13 to 15 of August.

#3 Tin Sritrai (THA):

Qualifying: 4th

Race 1: 4th

Race 2: 5th

”Having in mind that I had no previous experience of the circuit, I was pleased with the way I qualified and with my drive in yesterday’s race. I had problems in both races with the start and first corner . In Race 2 I lost two positions at the start and was really diifficult for me to catch up the drivers in front. The lessons learned in Chengdu will be useful in the future and I can approach the Shanghai race with confidence.”

#6 Zhang Ran (CN):

Qualifying: 10th

Race 1: 10th

Race 2: DNF

“It was my first race in single seaters, and Chengdu track is phisically very demanding. I know where in the track I was loosing time and we know what are my weak points at the moment. It was a shame what happened in Race 2. I was quicker than the French driver. I tried to overtake him in the chicane but I blocked the wheels and finished in the gravel.”

#15 Sandy Stuvik (THA):

Qualifying: 2nd

Race 1: 2nd

Race 2: 2nd

“Overall I am happy with my performance this weekend. When you go for the championship, you have to be able not to take unnecessary risks. Race leader Cao was slightly quicker than me this weekend. I did two OK starts and tried to follow him and maintain my position. I avoid any mistake and I got two important second places. I am very excited about the next race in Shanghai F1 track. I aim for wins but the championship comes first. ”

Asia Racing Team takes championship lead to Chengdu

The second round of the 2010 AFR Championship will take place this weekend at the Chengdu International Circuit in the Sichuan province of China. Beijing motorsport female star Zhang Ran will join Asia Racing Team regulars Sandy Stuvik and Tin Sritrai, taking the seat of Suriya Bala in Zhuhai.

Chengdu as previously held rounds of the AFR Championship. ART’s Luis Sa Silva won twice in AFR Championship rounds held in this track. The 3.367km clockwise circuit lies 16km from the city of Chengdu in the South West of China. Featuring a long front straight and 13 turns, the track is likely to promote overtaking due to its wide nature.

Two-second place finish in the first event for Stuvik has kick started his first single seater campaign. The 15-years old from Thailand takes the championship lead into this second of six double rounds, which will be held around China over the coming months. This weekend Stuvik will be aiming for race wins in Chengdu, and the young Thai can expect to build on his achievements from the past round in the upcoming races.

After a disappointing start to the season, team-mate Sritrai wants to show is real pace. The 2008 and 2009 AKOC Champion has been testing in Zhuhai to prepare the upcoming races, and is looking forward to achieve his first podium in Formula Renault.

Former Asian GT Challenge driver Naomi Zhang Ran joins the team for the first single seater race of her short career. The local star’s learning process continues in these races where a shining result is not the prime goal.

Speaking about the team return to Chengdu, ART’s Team Manager Philippe Descombes said, “I am looking forward to this event. We did pretty well here last season. It’s a very challenging track, and we are aiming a good overall result to extend our lead. The team has had a very strong start to the season; Sandy (Stuvik) has been on the right pace in Zhuhai events and Tin (Sritrai) is making great steps forward in every session.  It will be important to get to grips with the circuit quickly this weekend and give the drivers a fast car from the outset.”

The second championship event of the season kicks off with Free Practice on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 July. Saturday 17 July features the Qualifying and the Race1. The second 10-lap race will take place on Sunday 18 July.