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PCCA Rounds 1 & 2 - Sepang, Malaysia |
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Thanks to Thomas Lam from Create Images for the excellent photographs! |
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Gates GR Asia and Michelin put
Matthew on the grid |
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The new Gates GR Asia team scored a podium finish on its first outing in the region's premier racing series - the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. Two rounds were held as supporting races to the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix. Against the cream of the region's sports car drivers Matthew finished sixth and third in the two races. The Hong Kong-based Briton now lies fifth in the championship points. |
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Matthew enjoyed support at the Sepang circuit from representatives of title sponsor Gates - the world's largest manufacturer of automotive belts and hoses. Patrick Hoh (middle) and Jason Koay (left) cheered Matthew on from the pit wall on Sunday morning. |
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Saturday's qualifying session saw Matthew set the fifth fastest time. Pole position (2:10.458) was set by Darryl O'Young ahead of Keita Sawa from Japan (2:10.846). The next four cars were covered by less than half a second. The order being Yamaji, Albon, Marsh, Nattavude. |
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Saturday's race (round 1) was held in very hot conditions: 38 degrees centigrade air temperature and the track at over 50-degrees. The 400 horsepower Porsche engines run at over 100-degrees and, with no air-conditioning, the high cockpit temperatures require the drivers to wear a cooling vest circulating ice-cooled water. Matthew made a poor start and dropped to seventh place by the first corner. Whilst O'Young took a comfortable lead the next six cars battled for position. Eventually it was Nattavude who took second from Yamaji, Sawa and Albon - with Matthew in sixth place. |
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The starting positions for Sunday's race were based upon the finishing order of round one. This time Matthew made progress from the start line taking Sawa before the first turn. At the front Yamaji had passed O'Young and broke away from a four-car battle for runner-up honours. At the chequered flag it was Albon in second with Matthew taking the final podium position. |
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Thus the Gates logo was seen on the podium of a Carrera Cup Asia race for the first time. Porsche Asia-Pacific managing director Christer Ekberg was on hand to award the trophies. Rounds 3 and 4 of the series will be held at Sepang on 21st May. Photographs courtesy of Thomas Lam www.createimages.com.hk |