Jason Zhang wins Tianma Race 1, while Martin Xie secures title

Jason Zhang won the first race of the day at Tianma in the China Touring Car Championship Super Cup 1.6T race for Kia, but it wasn’t enough to stop Dongfeng Honda driver Martin Xie from winning the final 1.6T drivers’ title.

Xie had grabbed the lead after a chaotic start, but was closely chased by Kia’s Jim Ka To who made contact with the Chinese driver several times, eventually forcing him out of the lead on lap five.

Xie would fall down the order to cross the line sixth, but that was enough to secure him the drivers’ title with one race to go.

Zhang went on to win the race by just under a second from Kia team-mate Leo Yi, who starts the next race from pole position, while Macau’s Henry Ho finished the race on the final spot on the podium.

Only eight cars made the finish after the retirement of Kia’s Larry Lin on the first lap.