Darryl O'Young Curitiba preview

O'Young Ready To Go Racing In Brazil For Season Opener

Story Highlights

2008-Spec Chevrolet To Be Used For Round 1 & 2 In Brazil
Special "Save Japan" Livery For Earthquake And Tsunami Victims

Hong Kong, China - China's best touring and sports car racer Darryl O'Young gears up for the first race weekend at the Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba, Brazil in his sophomore year in the FIM World Touring Car Championship.

Darryl O'Young

Photo by: Andy Chan

This weekend will be the most challenging race of the year for the Hong Kong-based driver as he will still be using the 2008-spec Chevrolet Lacetti from last season while most of the other teams have already upgraded to the 2011 turbocharged engines.

"Our goal is to 'limit damage' and to try and score as many points as we can for the Independents title before being upgraded to the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T in the second race weekend, rounds 3 and 4 in Belgium in April." O'Young accumulated 3 wins, 10 podiums, 3 poles and ranked overall 4th in the Yokohama Independents' Trophy in 2010.

"Of course it is not the best situation not to have the new car from the start of the season. But I am sure once I get behind of the wheel of the latest Cruze -- the same one to be driven by defending world champion Yvan Muller -- we will be able to fight for championship podiums."

O'Young and his Japanese teammate Yamamoto and many other drivers will be running a special livery on the front bonnet of the car with the words "Save Japan" along with a black stripe to remember the victims of the terrible earthquake, tsunami and nuclear threat that has struck their nation.

Sponsors LKM and A-Ha Coffee are the major forces behind Darryl's pursuit of success in the 2011 FIM World Touring Car Championship, with additional team support coming from Chevrolet. LKM and A-Ha Coffee are parts of his motorsport journey for many years now.