Chen takes first pole of the 2011 ATCS

Chen Jun San of Team AAI/Buddy Club took pole today for the opening round of the Asian Touring Car Series at the Guangdong International Circuit.

Chen clocked the fastest time of the day with 1:21.834 on the 2.8km circuit in the ex-BTCC Honda Civic FN2, a whole second ahead of second placed driver Paul Poon in the China Dragon Racing Chevrolet Lacetti.

Poon’s team-mate Samson Fung and Look Fong Racing Team’s Eric Kwong will start third and fourth on the grid for the first race.

Kenneth Lau of JAS Motorsport will line-up on the third row next to his teammate Chooi Koon Ming. The duo in their Honda Accord CL7s are ahead of Japanese driver Hideharu Kuroki of Team IMSP and privateer Andy Yan Cheuk Wai’s Honda Integra.

Completing the top ten are 778 Autosport’s Lo Ka Chun and Lo Ka Fai in ninth and tenth respectively in their Honda Civic FD2s.

Morris Chen Han Chen of of Team AAI/Buddy Club had an accident during the unofficial practice session yesterday damaging the front of his car in the incident.

The driver is unharmed but missed qualifying and will also miss today’s race.

The team is currently making repairs to the car in preparation for the second race tomorrow in which he will start from the back of the grid.

Round 1 of the Asian Touring Car Series will be held today at 5.15pm local time while Round 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 1.45pm.