Floirendo maintains lead in Audi LMS Challenger Cup
Credit to Author: MIKE POTENCIANO| Date: Sat, 13 Jul 2019 16:17:25 +0000
The lone Filipino entry in the Audi LMS Cup, supercar champion driver Vincent Floirendo, maintained his lead midway through the Challenger Trophy class after a challenging racing weekend in Shanghai, China last month.
The Davaoeño businessman and banana magnate finished with two superb third-place finishes in both of the Challenger Trophy races in the magnificent Shanghai F1 Track. Floirendo kept his cool even with a lot of accidents happening around him and kept the lead in his class going to the final half of the season.
However, a new challenger appeared in the form of Italian racer Angelo Negro who impressed on his Cup debut by taking both wins in the Challenger Trophy races. The highly touted Italian crossed the finish line in fourth overall in his first-ever race in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 and a fantastic podium finish in third place in the last race of the weekend.
The premiere Audi Sport R8 LMS Cup was won by China’s Anthony Liu in an emphatic hometown victory. He became the fifth driver to win in as many races in the very competitive, one-make race series, beating home hero Alex Au and reigning champion Andrew Haryanto of Indonesia.
Sheng Yanwen earned his maiden GT4 Cup class win to put himself firmly in the category’s championship leaderboard. Sheng made sure there was a Chinese race winner in both the GT3 and GT4 Cups in Shanghai and has now become the dominant force in the Audi LMS championship.
“Congratulations to Anthony Liu, Angelo Negro and Sheng Yanwen on their wins,” said Martin Kuehl, director of Audi Sport customer racing Asia. “Shanghai is the home of the Chinese motor sports and of the Cup, so it’s fitting to see two Chinese drivers on the top step of the podium.”
There is only 10 points separating Floirendo and Negro with two more legs to go in the series. Hence, the Filipino racer will try to step up and get back his form that he had in the first four rounds where he won two. The next race will be at the Suzuka International Circuit in Japan on August 23 to 24.
The post Floirendo maintains lead in Audi LMS Challenger Cup appeared first on The Manila Times Online.