AP: Series Shanghai preview

Tension Mounts as Title Chase Intensifies

With just four rounds remaining of the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season, a thrilling showdown between the championship contenders is a sure-fire bet at Rounds 10 & 11 at the Shanghai International Circuit this weekend.

The 2009 season kicked off at the 5.5km track in support of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix back in April this year. In the season-opener, it was Team StarChase driver Christian Menzel and Briton Tim Sugden who took a win apiece. The pair return more than six months later still at the top of the standings, with Menzel's single point advantage illustrating just how tight the competition is.

The German's maximum points haul in Singapore in September vaulted him into the overall lead and closer to winning his first Porsche Carrera Cup Asia title after finishing runner-up in the 2008.

Sugden will be anxious to get back to winning form in Shanghai, after the 2007 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion's unbroken run of eight-straight podium finishes came to an end in the Lion City.

Third in the title chase is defending and 2006 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Darryl O'Young of Team Jebsen. Twenty-seven points adrift of Menzel, O'Young will be feeling the pressure as the clock ticks on his title defense.

Exciting young newcomer Rodolfo Avila continues to impress, the 22-year-old proving he is more than a match for the seasoned professionals in this, his first season of Porsche competition. The Asia Racing Team driver from Macau remains a serious championship contender with four races to go.

Another emerging young talent, Danny Chu of the Netherlands, 25, still has a mathematical chance of lifting the title, but more important has been his remarkable development over just his second full season of motorsport competition.

Hong Kong's Philip Ma and Singapore's Melvin Choo will continue their season-long battle in Class B. While Jacob & Co Racing Team's Ma has the edge in the points, Choo is fiercely determined to win title, having missed taking title honours by a whisker in 2008.

Competing in his first full season of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Singapore's Yuey Tan lies third in the Class B standings. The Team PCS Racing driver will be joined in Shanghai by teammate Mok Weng Sun, who competes in the professional Class A category.

With five teams and four drivers flying the flag for China, there will be no shortage of home support as the series supports the China Touring Car Championship.

-credit: pcc ap