Phoenix Racing Asia decided the 2017 season within the GT Asia Series as arguably the group to beat, after declaring second outright inside championship for co-team main Marchy Lee and Shaun Thong, whilst three-time Audi R8 LMS Drink champion Alex Yoong and team-mate Alex Dans claimed the penultimate race of the season.
2017 though presented a very different predicament with the maiden year or so of Blancpain GT Line Asia scheduled as one of the team’s major promises, and many wondered if the new team could possibly continue that being successful.
By his own admission, Alex Yoong mentioned it was a long off-season in which he wasn’t sure with the threat of the completely new Blancpain GT Series Japan, as to whether he would have the pace to match several of the world’s best GT3 squads, but after being qualified it was pretty distinct that despite a field with some immense talent, the Malaysian former Formula 1 driver topped your timesheets in today’s qualifying procedure.
“I had a lot of tension coming into this weekend as you never know – you go with the winter asking yourself whether you’ll still be quick. We’re able to see yesterday the pace was there – the cars have become even, I think we certainly have the chance to fight. I needed to have a really good panel and I had a very good lap. I found a little bit of traffic while in the final corner of which cost me a little time nonetheless I’m very happy, a great way to start the season.”
With the seasoned Phoenix Racing China team behind the pup, Yoong was the standout in the second 15-minute appointment, setting a time right away with what the team felt was the one chance he had on his particular new Pirelli tyres, Yoong striking to both submit an almost flawless lap, and negotiate a track space found it necessary to ensure he had not been delayed by page views.
Earlier Marchy Lee had come very close to making a front row start just after setting the second speediest time on their first quick clapboard, but traffic beaten down any further forward advance, the 2017 Audi R8 LMS Pot champion ultimately categorized fourth, whilst Alex Dans claimed a 6 row start, Barry Thong – carrying 25-kilograms* more weight as compared to Alex Yoong – eleventh in the minute session.
