Asia Racing Team will field two SEAT Leon TCR in the Circuit Hero 700 km Endurance Race at the Zhuhai International Circuit on January 5 and 6, 2019.
Circuit Hero 700km Endurance brings down the curtain of Chinese motorsports before the Chinese New Year holidays. For the first time with a 700 km distance, the race is a mix of GT and Touring cars and it is divided into five classes. Asia Racing Team successful SEAT Leon TCR DSG armada joins the Class A for Touring Cars with engine capacity over 2,001cc.
The Zhuhai based team finished the three past editions of the race in the Class A podium, winning the class in 2017 with an impressive second-place overall finish.
An all-Japanese team will pilot the #9 entry, with Super Taikyu Series regular Daisuke Yamawaki lining up alongside GT racing veteran Akira Mizutani and 2018 Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris one-make cup “2018 Rookie of the Year” Sou Fujii.
A pair of Hong Kong drivers will share the driving of the #99 entry. Volkswagen Scirocco China podium-finisher William Cheung will make his race return and will be joined by the rookie Sergiel Luk, both of whom are well known to the squad.
The build-up to the big race starts on Friday (January 4th) with technical scrutineering and the non-official practice. The single official practice is scheduled for Saturday ahead of the qualifying. A 30-minute qualifying session on Saturday afternoon sets the grid for Sunday’s race at 12:30 (local time GMT+8).
DRIVERS’ QUOTES
Daisuke Yamawaki (No. 9 SEAT Leon TCR): “This is going to be the first race in this car for the three of us. The car has shown reasonable pace on testing and we are confident and motivated. Let’s hope we can have a positive weekend.”
Akira Mizutani (No. 9 SEAT Leon TCR): “This race will be quite an exciting one. I’m excited to share the No. 9 car with Daisuke and Sou. I hope our first Zhuhai endurance race will be a successful one.”
Sou Fujii (No. 9 SEAT Leon TCR): “This will be my first race with SEAT, and will just have the opportunity to drive it for the first time on Friday before the race event. I am cautiously optimistic having driven quite a few touring cars over the years. We are confident and motivated.”
William Cheung (No. 99 SEAT Leon TCR): “I’m thrilled to join Asia Racing Team for this race return. We still have a great deal to learn, but we want to enjoy this experience. I’m really looking forward to racing this weekend.”
Sergiel Luk (No. 99 SEAT Leon TCR): “It will be the first race for me and I want to experience the thrill of racing. I wish to complete the race and enjoy the weekend.”
TIMETABLE
Saturday, January 5
13:00 – 14:00 – Free Practice
15:30 – 16:00 – Qualifying
Sunday, January 6
12:30 – 17:00 – Race
