Porsche
AP: Series Sentul race report
Menzel victorious in Indonesia. Team StarChase driver Christian Menzel scored his third victory of the season during Round 8 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia at the Sentul International Circuit. Saturday's Round 7 winner Rodolfo Avila of ...
Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:20 PM
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Menzel victorious in Indonesia.
Team StarChase driver Christian Menzel scored his third victory of the season during Round 8 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia at the Sentul International Circuit. Saturday's Round 7 winner Rodolfo Avila of Asia Racing Team was second on the podium, while GruppeM Racing driver Tim
Sugden was third for the second time this weekend.
Corum ThunderAsia Racing's Melvin Choo scored his second consecutive win in the non-professional Class B and in the process matched his season-best result of seventh overall.
Joining Choo on the podium, was Philip Ma of Jacob&Co Racing with Team PCS Racing driver Yuey Tan placing third in the class.
With Menzel's victory, the German is now six points off Sugden's championship lead. While Menzel is aiming for his first Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship, Sugden is hoping for a second title to accompany the one he won in 2007. Defending Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Darryl O'Young is third, 30 points behind Sugden.
From pole position, Avila took the lead at the start of the race. However, Menzel was close behind him and chipped away at the gap between the two leading cars. On Lap 7, Menzel overtook the young Macanese driver and from there stayed in the winning position 3.296 seconds ahead of Avila.
Said an excited Menzel: "Today we changed our strategy with the car and were more aggressive. It was easy for me to follow Rodolfo [Avila ] and it was only a question of time that he made a mistake. Compliments to him because he was very fair and let me past him."
Avila said he found it difficult to strengthen his lead with Menzel pushing behind him. Commented Avila: "I didn't concentrate as well as I did yesterday and I ended up a bit stressed because I was always looking at my rear-view mirror because Christian [Menzel] was getting closer. I did one or two mistakes and after that, my concentration became even worse."
Sugden started the race from third position but was overtaken at the start by Team Jebsen driver O'Young. The two engaged in a tight battle for the third and final podium position, with Sugden successfully making his move on Lap 11, leaving O'Young to fall two places back behind both Sugden and guest driver Ananda Mikola with Humpuss Racing Team.
"The car was actually quite good," Sugden said. "The race was okay and I am still leading the championship. There are things to sort out and we are sorting them out. Eight podiums so far and at least I am consistent in being third!"
In Class B, Choo finished one position better than he did at the start, saying that his car was better in Round 8 and was able to sort out some problems which plagued him in Saturday's Round 7.
"I tried as hard as I could because I wanted to be on pace for the next race in Singapore, which is my home circuit."
Hong Kong driver Ma attempted to match Choo's pace and was waiting for an opportunity to pass him. Said Ma: "Towards the end of the race, I was having clutch problems and it was difficult to get into gear so I decided it was better to finish the race and defend my position."
At his home circuit, Indonesia Mikola finished fourth in just his second Porsche Carrera Cup Asia race. "I am just getting used to the car as it is my first time, but I am thinking that most likely I will finish the season," Mikola said.
The series will next head to Singapore where, from September 25-27, the series will support the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay street circuit.
-credit: porsche
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