Martin Cao wins Tianma Race 1 for Dongfeng Kia Racing

Martin Cao has won the first race of the China Touring Car Championship weekend at Tianma, his first win since joining the Dongfeng Kia Racing Team this year, finishing ahead of Volkswagen driver Zhang Zhen Dong and the Changan Ford FRD Team Focus of Jim Ka To.

The Ford team are fielding an altered line up this weekend, with two of their main drivers, Andy Yan and Rainey He, competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours this weekend, with Shaun Thong and Pepe Oriola filling in for the team.

Although Oriola qualified sixth, the Spaniard was the first retirement of the race.

Cao won the race by 3.7 seconds over Zhen Dong, who extends his lead in the points standings, with Zhan pulling off his best result of the season in third.

Sun Chao took the best result of the Guangzhou Toyota Racing Team to-date with fourth in the new Corolla saloon, with David Zhu the best-placed of the BAIC Senovas in fifth, ahead of Li Ying Jian’s Ford, and Adam Morgan, the best-placed of the international wild card drivers in seventh.

Rodolfo Avila was eighth in his SAIC Volkswagen 333 Racing Lamando, with Jason Zhang’s Kia (pictured) and Deng Bao Wei’s Toyota completing the top ten.

Race 2 is scheduled for 13:00 local time (CST) tomorrow.