Miranda takes TCR Asian Drivers title
Credit to Author: MIKE POTENCIANO| Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2019 17:43:56 +0000
Daniel Miranda, the lone Filipino driver in the TCR Asia Championship, has emerged the top Asian driver in the series after finishing in his badly damaged Hyundai I30 race car at the final round at the Bangsaen Grand Prix in Thailand recently.
Miranda also secured fourth overall right behind racing veterans that were above his class.
TCR Asia Championship at the Bangsaen Grand Prix in Thailand recently. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Filipino simply had to finish the race to become the top Asian driver in the series, since he had built a substantial lead over his competitors in the past races.
But the Cebuano TCR Asian champion had a big accident in the first race of the weekend, after having a very bad start that left him at the back of the field. After chasing the other competitors in front, his teammate Kim Jin Soo bumped the barrier in the tight street circuit that sent Kim in front of Miranda.
With nowhere to go, Miranda collided with Kim’s car and was also hit from behind by another car that made Miranda’s car burst into flames. Luckily, Miranda was able to turn on his onboard fire extinguisher and put out the flames. His car, however, was in a very sorry state. But he escaped unscathed, while his teammate Kim had a broken collarbone that forced him to retire from the event.
The second-generation racer had his Eurasia Motorsport Team, headed by Mark Goddard and team manager Roland Hermoso, repair the Hyundai race car all night with their Filipino mechanics. The car had to be ready by early morning, as Miranda simply needed to finish the final race to win the Asian Drivers Title.
The car was able to make it to the grid, but had a lot of problems with the clutch being the biggest headache. But his car made it to the finish line, and Miranda won the Asian title.
“Our mission was accomplished as Daniel won the TCR Asian Drivers’ Title,” Goddard said after the race. “It’s only his first year in TCR Asia, and we knew it was only a learning year for us. After getting fourth overall behind much experienced racing drivers, we are looking forward to 2020 when he will fight for the title. With Hyundai including him in their Junior Driver Development Program, we will have a fast car and great support for next year.”
The overall title went to German teenager Luca Engstler, who won his back-to-back title after a tough battle with teammate Ecuadorian Diego Moran. Moran finished in second place and Spaniard Pepe Oriola took the third place. World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff also won a leg in the series.