It was a successful weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit for 阿波罗RFN赛车队 by Blackjack and 阿波罗RFN赛车队 by ART, as both teams collected silverware in the second round of the F4 Chinese Championship. Andrei Dubynin stepped onto the overall podium, while Viktor Turkin secured top-three finishes in the Master Class.
Friday afternoon marked the start of competitive action, with two qualifying sessions setting the grid for Races 5 and 7 of the season. After a challenging season opener in Ningbo, Andrei Dubynin bounced back with a strong showing, securing P4 in Q1 and P6 in Q2 overall, laying a solid foundation for a competitive weekend.
In the Master Class, Viktor Turkin continued to demonstrate impressive consistency and speed, qualifying P2 and P3 across the two sessions, further establishing himself as a regular podium contender.
A standout moment came from 15-year-old Tiger Zhang, who achieved his best qualifying result to date with P14 in Q2 – a clear sign of his growing confidence and steady development in the series.
As the F4 Chinese Championship returned for its second quadruple-header of the season, Huang Chu Jian joined 阿波罗RFN赛车队 by ART, lining up alongside Andrei Dubynin and Tiger Zhang of the Blackjack squad, and Viktor Turkin with ART.
Rounds 5 and 6 delivered strong performances and valuable points for both teams. Dubynin showed impressive pace in Race 1, finishing P4, and followed it with a commanding drive in Race 2, charging from P7 on the grid to finish P3, securing a well-earned podium finish.
On Saturday, teammate Viktor Turkin also climbed the rostrum in Race 2, finishing second in the Master Class. Although a post-race penalty in Race 1 caused some controversy, he still came away with solid points.
Tiger Zhang continues to find his footing in the world of single-seater racing. He finished P15 in Race 1, but was forced to retire from Race 2 after being caught out by a spin from a car ahead while making a comeback from a difficult start.
Series debutant Huang Chu Jian impressed in his first ever single-seater races, delivering a consistent performance across both of Saturday’s contests. He held his own in the fiercely competitive midfield and crossed the line P7 in the CFGP class in Race 2.
Sunday followed a similar format, with two more races at the iconic Shanghai International Circuit – home of the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Andrei Dubynin claimed his second consecutive overall podium in Race 3, showcasing his rapid adaptation to the series. Despite a DNF in Race 2, caused by a collision during an overtaking manoeuvre, the experienced karting driver and F4 newcomer proved his potential once again.
In the Master Class, Viktor Turkin continued his strong form, adding two more P3 finishes on Sunday and completing a consistent, podium-filled weekend.
Tiger Zhang displayed commendable focus and maturity for his age. He finished P14 overall in Sunday’s opening race, despite receiving a 10-second penalty for causing a collision. The final race of the weekend turned into a learning experience after he had to start from the pit lane due to missing his grid position—a beginner’s mistake, but an important lesson learned.
Finally, Huang Chu Jian completed both races on Sunday, rounding off a solid debut weekend in single-seaters – a commendable achievement as he begins his journey in formula racing.
Team Manager Rodolfo Avila said: “It was a hard-working weekend. We came home with some silverware, but more importantly, our drivers showed clear progress compared to the opening round in Ningbo. Andrei was fighting for podiums, Viktor was a consistent presence in the Master Class top three, and Tiger showed promising signs of improvement. Huang was competing in his first-ever single-seater race, and he did well. We’ll keep working closely with our drivers to further improve our results in the next round.”
The championship resumes at the Zhuhai International Circuit from 13 to 15 June.
