ATCC: Korea round 7 and 8 race results

Victories for Sham and Sawa, round 7

Hong Kong's Gary Sham took his Honda Integra DC2 to Division 1 victory in Round 7 of the Asian Touring Car Series at Taebaek Circuit in South Korea.

After a bad start, Sham was thrilled with his win, saying, "I'm very surprised to be first. I was trying my hardest all the way through." Improvements to his car also played a part, but the three 3 Crowns Racing driver notched up a well deserved win after a hard fought race.

Macau's Ao Chi Hong was second in a Honda Integra DC5, with N. Jakthong in third in the Toyota Altezza. "The circuit is good and the track is smooth and clean," said the Thai. "My car is rear wheel drive, but that only gives me an advantage when braking. The cornering is better for the Hondas."

Seijiro Sawa took the honours in Division 2 in his Select Racing Team Honda Civic EK9, a car well suited to the 2.5km Taebaek track. "The (Honda) Civic is very stable into the first corner and the braking is easy on this circuit," he said.

Danny Stacy Chau took second place for Team IMSP in the Honda Civic EG6 after following eventual third placed man, Junichi Koizumi, for 12 laps of the race. "He kept me behind him!" said Chau. "I tried everything to get around him, but he kept me there." <pre> Results Round 7

Division 1 No. Name Car Team Time 1. Gary SHAM (HKG) Honda Integra DC2 3 Crowns Racing 21:16.358 2. AO Chi Hong (MAC) Honda Integra DC5 Ao's Racing 21:26.783 3. Jakthong NAVASOOPANICH (THA) Toyota Altezza Team Soopanava 21:37.188 4. Phillip YAU (HKG) Honda Integra DC5 Team IMSP 21:42.474 5. Kirakiat YENMANOJ (THA) Toyota Altezza 3 Crowns Racing 21:43.805 DNF Yamano Naoya (JPN) Honda Integra DC5 Ao's Racing 16 laps

Division 2 No. Name Car Team Time 1. SAWA Seijiro (JPN) Honda Civic EK9 Select Racing Team 21:16.241 2. Danny Stacy CHAU (HKG) Honda Civic EG6 Team IMSP 21:37.569 3. Junichi KOIZUMI (JPN) Honda Civic EK9 Ao's Racing 21:39.805 </pre> Double victory for Japanese drivers in round 8

Japanese drivers took victory in both Divisions 1 and 2 in Round 8 of the Asian Touring Car Series at the Taebaek Circuit in South Korea today.

In Division I, Ao's Racing driver Naoya Yamano drove his Honda Integra DC5 to victory, making up for his earlier outing when he failed to finish. "I'm really happy with this win," he said. "I was driving quite carefully in order to avoid a repeat of what happened in Round 7, and just did my best."

Gary Sham, in his incredibly loud Honda Integra DC2 took the second spot on the podium but, despite his best efforts, could not grab the top spot. Towards the end of the race, a shower of sparks appeared from beneath his car. "In the first round, my exhaust cracked," he explained. "We hastily fitted another one, but in the closing rounds it came adrift which would account for the fireworks," he added.

Thailand's N. Jakthong fought as hard as he could, but wasn't able to catch the two leading cars.

Division 2 honours were once again taken by Seijiro Sawa in the Honda Civic EK9, a car ideally suited to the 2.5km Taebaek Circuit. Junichi Koizumi was second having taken a leaf out of his adversary Danny Stacy Chau's book and blocked the Hong Kong veteran effectively to the finish. "All the way I had problems with him," said Chau. "I will try to do a lot better throughout the rest of the season."

The next stop for the Asian Touring Car Series is Japan's Autopolis Circuit on September 27 and 18. <pre> Results Round 8

Division 1 No. Name Car Team Time 1. Yamano Naoya (JPN) Honda Integra DC5 Ao's Racing 16:02.310 2. Gary SHAM (HKG) Honda Integra DC2 3 Crowns Racing 16:03.533 3. Jakthong NAVASOOPANICH (THA) Toyota Altezza Team Soopanava 16:07.014 4. AO Chi Hong (MAC) Honda Integra DC5 Ao's Racing 16:10.617 5. Kirakiat YENMANOJ (THA) Toyota Altezza 3 Crowns Racing 16:13.567 6. Phillip YAU (HKG) Honda Integra DC5 Team IMSP 16:16.822

Division 2 No. Name Car Team Time 1. SAWA Seijiro (JPN) Honda Civic EK9 Select Racing Team 15:55.241 2. Junichi KOIZUMI (JPN) Honda Civic EK9 Ao's Racing 16:13.924 3. Danny Stacy CHAU (HKG) Honda Civic EG6 Team IMSP 16:14.004

-mal-