Photo: CTCC

Jim Ka To takes his Kia to victory in Shanghai Race 2

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Dongfeng Yueda Kia Racing Team driver Jim Ka To won the second race of the day at the Shanghai International Circuit, holding off the Senova of David Zhu and the Volkswagen of Jiang Tengyi to the finish.

The race was red flagged after the first formation lap, after the Ford of Martin Cao lined up in the wrong grid spot. This caused a full restart, and a subsequent heating overheating problem on the second restart for Darryl O’Young in the #97 Senova D70, who couldn’t get away from his grid position.

Haima Racing’s He Zi Yian started from pole position due to the reverse top 12 from Race 1, after Shanghai VW 333 Racing’s Zheng Zhen Dong had been penalised in Race 1 and sent to the back of the grid.

The Haima Racing driver tumbled down the order at the start, spun out of the way as he struggled to keep pace with the faster cars behind him, with Juan Carlos Zhu assuming the lead in his Senova, followed by Jim Ka To and Jiang Tengyi.

David Zhu in the #98 Senova was making quick progress, as was Volkswagen driver Rob Huff dropped to the back, pitting with a power steering issue on the second parade lap and starting from the pit lane.

Zhu had started tenth, but had moved to sixth by the end of lap one, then passed the two Kias of Leo Hong Li and Jason Zhang to move into fourth, which became third when his brother retired from the lead on lap three, also overheating, promoting Jim to the lead.

From then on, Jim controlled the race, while Zhu made his move on Jiang to take second on lap six, and then pressured the Kia driver, but Jim held on to take his second win of the year, and the third for Kia Racing.

Leo Hong Li finished just off the podium in fourth in his Kia, while Rob Huff continued to pass at least one car a lap and worked his way to fifth on the final lap, finishing one spot ahead of team-mate and reigning champion Zheng Zhen Dong, who’d also made good progress from the back of the grid.

Martin Cao was the best-placed of the Changan Ford drivers in seventh, with Kia’s Jason Zhang eighth, followed by the two Fords of Rainey He and James Nash.