ATCC: Subic: Round one results

Subic International Raceway, Philippines
April 14, 2002 (Sunday)

Asian Touring Car Series Round 1: Ruokonen wins; Chau scythes through.

Toni Ruokonen won the first round of the 2002 Asian Touring Car Series in a Peugeot 306, ahead of local driver George Ramirez. After a relatively poor start from the dusty `off-line' side of the track the Finn was "happy to get a comfortable lead" over Ramirez's Honda.

Both drivers were happy with the performance of their Michelin tyres on the newly renovated Subic International Raceway, near Manila: "Of course they performed best in the first few laps," said Ramirez. "I was pleased that Toni slowed down because I couldn't match his pace."

In Division 3, for cars with less powerful engines, Hong Kong driver Danny Stacy Chau used strategy to overcome his rivals: "In qualifying I did just the minimum three laps so that my tyres would be in peak condition," explained 55 year old Chau after the race.

Favourite for Division 3 victory before the race was Macau's Ao Chi Hong. After eventually losing the battle with the fast charging Chau he was relegated to third by Japanese lady drive Kanami Takeda. A stunt-driver and television commentator by profession, Takeda found the Subic circuit "slippery but fun."

Asian Touring Car Series Round 1 - Subic International Raceway

1. Toni ROUKONEN (FIN) 26:52.402
2. George RAMIREZ (PHI) 27:11.767
3. LO Ka Chun (HKG) 27:33.185
4. Danny Stacy CHAU (HKG) 27:34.080
5. Takeda KANAMI (JAP) 27:46.709
6. AO Chi Hong (MAC) 27: 57.728

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