Gin Hashi ACM by Blackjack Racing drivers Li Sicheng and Lele Zhang Hongyu secured second place in the GTC class in both races at the China GT Championship (CGTC) season-opener, held at the 5.451 km Shanghai International Circuit.
On Saturday morning, Lele Zhang Hongyu and Li Sicheng delivered strong performances in qualifying, with the team’s Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo 2 claiming class pole position for both races of the opening double-header of the season.
With the main grandstand well-filled for the weekend’s first race on Saturday afternoon, the Gin Hashi ACM by Blackjack Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo 2 started from the pit lane — a strategic decision by the team to avoid potential incidents at Turn 1. The strategy paid dividends, and the Italian machine quickly carved its way through the field to reclaim the lead in the GTC class. However, following the final safety car restart, a small but costly error on the last lap denied the team a likely victory.
Sunday’s race proved challenging from the outset, as an early spin compromised the Chinese pairing’s chances of winning. Despite the setback, they secured another second-place finish, which did not fully reflect the team’s outright pace and potential across the weekend.
Reflecting on the weekend, Zhang Hongyu commented: “I’m happy with my pace and my stints, apart from the spin in Race 2. Overall, it was a valuable weekend of practice. I feel ready to take part in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo round at Shanghai.”
Teammate Li Sicheng added: “After this weekend, I realise I need more race experience in racing with different categories. I spent too much time overtaking some of the GT3 cars. Yesterday, our competitor executed a better move on me at the final corner. I’ll learn to be more aggressive when needed.”
Blackjack Racing Team Principal Jack Pang, who is set to return to the cockpit of the Gin Hashi ACM by Blackjack Racing Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo 2 next month, concluded: “Overall, it was a valuable learning weekend. Both drivers performed well, avoiding the chaos and negotiating traffic effectively. I’m looking forward to partnering with Li Sicheng again at the next round of the China GT Championship.”
The China GT Championship continues on 17–18 May, once again at the Shanghai International Circuit.
