David Zhu wins destructive second race at Guangdong

Reigning CTCC drivers’ champion David Zhu has claimed his first win of the season in a race of high attrition at the Guangdong International Circuit, in which just half the field made the finish.

Zhu launched into the lead from second on the grid, with the top 13 (of 15) reversed for the second race, with Yang Fan in his Volkswagen losing out on his first place.

Zhu led the way ahead of the Changan Ford FRD Team Focus of Rainey He and the Kia of Jim Ka To at the start, before the race was held behind the safety car from lap four following an incident involving the two SAIC Volkswagens of Zheng Zhen Dong and Cai Yue, the Changan Ford Focus of Andy Yan, and the BAIC Senova D50 of Darryl O’Young.

The race resumed on lap nine, with Rodolfo Avila in the Volkswagen Lamando quick to make his was past the Kia of Jim Ka To, with yesterday’s race winner Jason Zhang following him through into fourth.

David Zhu meanwhile was building a healthy lead in his Senova D50, with the Ford of Rainey He left to fight off the Volkswagen of Avila.

The battle came to a head on lap 14 when the two made contact, allowing Zhang and the train of four Kias through, with Rainey droppping to sixth and Avila into retirement.

Zhu went on to take a dominant win ahead of the four Kias, with Rainey He sixth ahead of Ford team-mate Sunny Wong who missed all Friday running with engine problems.

The race was a disaster for the SAIC Volkswagen 333 Racing team, with Yang Fan their only finisher in eighth, the last car classified on the lead lap.

The next round of the China Touring Car Championship takes place on July 22nd at the Shanghai Tianma circuit.