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Alex Yoong Wins Audi R8 LMS Cup Race 1


SHANGHAI, April 29 (Bernama) -- Former Malaysian Formula One driver Alex Yoong led from the start to win Race 1 of the inaugural Audi R8 LMS Cup held at the Shanghai International Circuit here Sunday.

Starting second on the grid, amidst a light drizzle which needed wet tyres to be brought in and changed minutes before the start, he zoomed into the lead, right after the green light, though Marchy Lee of Hongkong came mesmerisingly close to threatening his lead on a number of occasions.

Digging deep into his vast experience as a former F1 driver, Alex Yoong held off the Hong Kong racer's advances to hold his racing line and clinch the 17-lap race with a total time of 36 minutes 12.942 seconds, en route to setting the fastest time of 2:01.723s on lap 4 of the race held over a 4.603km distance.

"My start was excellent and overtook Marchy Lee on the first turn. From then on, the race strategy was to hold on to the lead, not make any mistake and not push the car too early, because there was a need to preserve the tyres.

"Marchy was certainly quicker in the mid-sector so I had to make up in the back straight with speed. The decision to switch to wet tyres worked well," Alex Yoong told reporters in a post-race press conference.

The Audi R8 LMS Cup is the first ever 'One-Make' racing championship from Audi and had an intriguing line-up of high-profile professionals and exciting talent for the inaugural season, including highly acclaimed Hong Kong actor-singer Aaron Kwok who finished Race 1 in 11th spot.

After its debut in Shanghai, the series will travel to Zhuhai, move on to Ordos in Inner Mongolia and return to Zhuhai before culminating into the grand finale in Shanghai to end the season.

At the end of the season, three titles will be up for grabs this season, namely the Audi R8 LMS Cup overall title, an Amateur Category and a Team award, based on points accumulated throughout the series.

Leading Race 1 Results:

1. Alex Yoong (MAS) 36:12.942s

2. Marchy Lee (HKG) 36:14.402s

3. Jeffrey Lee (TPE) 36:25.468s

4. Adderly Fong (HKG) 36:27.809s

5. Sun Zheng (CHN) 36:35.768s

6. Eric Kwong (HKG) 36:47.158s

7. Hua Xia Wei (CHN) 37:03.732s

8. Mak Hing Tak (HKG) 37:41.262s

9. Byron Tong (HKG) 37:45.767s

10. Zhang Ran (CHN) 38:02.901s.

From Jaiarajo Letchumanan
-- BERNAMA

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