As it embarks on its fifth season with an official test on February 14 and 15 in Malaysia, the
region’s premier sportscar series has once again surpassed itself with a fascinating line-up
of exuberant newcomers and experienced professionals, all competing in the 997-based
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the most powerful in history, which made its spectacular Asian
debut last season.
The non-stop action right the way through the field which has become the hallmark of the
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is thanks to the two-category system: Class A for professional
racers and Class B, for non-professionals. Not only does the system provide unsurpassed
on-track excitement for race fans, but the lure of joining the Class A ranks has proved a
powerful incentive for former non-professionals, with several progressing through the ranks,
as well as the field.
The Drivers
Since making its debut in 2003, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has attracted leading drivers
from far and wide such as Britain’s youngest ever GT Champion Jonathan Cocker, who won
the series in 2005, and fellow Britons Danny Watts and Simon Harrison. This year is no
exception with exciting youngster Christian Jones, son of 1980 Formula One World Champion
Alan Jones and an A1GP driver, racing for China’s SCC team, and twice British GT Champion
and Le Mans racer Tim Sugden competing with GruppeM Racing, joining the series for 2007.
Jones began racing karts at the age of 13, winning State and National Championships in his
native Australia. He made a successful progression to cars, winning the 2004 Asian Formula
3 Championship at his first attempt. Jones’ Porsche Carrera Cup Asia campaign will mark his
sportscar debut.
Sugden began karting at 12, later becoming British Junior Champion. Success in single seaters
and touring cars followed before a change of direction in 1997 saw him switch to sports car
racing, clinching the British GT Championship for the first time that year. The following year he
finished 4th overall in the Le Mans 24 hour race as well as taking his second British GT
Championship, and has since continued his stellar sportscar career, with successes in the
ALMS series, the Daytona 24 Hours, and the FIA GT Championship.
In 2005, Sugden won the Porsche Cup, awarded annually by Porsche to the most successful
driver of customer owned Porsche cars worldwide. It is testament to the high regard in
which the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is held worldwide that Sugden has chosen to make
a move East with the series.
Also limbering up for the new season during the test days at Malaysia’s Sepang International
Circuit will be Japanese ace Keita Sawa of Cref Motorsports. Making his debut at the start
of 2006, Sawa vowed to take the championship title. However, such is the intensity of
competition in the series, that two disastrous non points-scoring outings at the start of the
season put pay to his title aspirations, although never before had the series seen a more
delighted driver when he took a superb second place in the season-closer at the Macau Grand
Prix. Finishing third overall last year with seven podium finishes in 12 rounds, Sawa is definitely
a hot prospect for the championship this time out.
Luxury mobile handset maker Vertu made its debut last year with Briton Nigel Albon and the
dynamic pairing returns for a second shot at the title this year. Albon never realized his full
potential last season, and will be out to set the record straight this time, having missed taking
the title by a whisker in 2003.
Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak is all set for his fifth season with the series. The Thai regularly
displays flashes of sheer brilliance on track, but his true talent was impeded last year as he
struggled to get to grips with the new car. Vutthikorn is the protégé of one of Asia’s all-time
racing heroes, Charoensukhawatana Nattavude, and no driver could wish for a more
experienced coach.
Sri Lankan Dilantha Malagamuwa is back for his fourth Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season.
With a diverse racing background, which includes motorcycles, single seaters and sportscar
endurance racing, the Team Hayashi driver is a popular figure in the paddock.
Hong Kong’s Alain Li was promoted to Class A last season following a spectacular return to
racing in 2005 after a six year absence which saw him dominate the Class B championship.
This season Li, racing this year with Sunseeker, will be glad to leave behind him the ill luck
which dogged him last year, compounded by the fact he was forced to miss four races due
to other commitments. Li’s quiet resolve and understated determination make him the dark
horse of the field.
As Li had done in 2005, last year newcomer to both the race tracks of Asia and the Porsche
Carrera Cup Asia, Australian Geoff Morgan, took the Class B category by storm, winning the
championship and finishing 10th overall. His superb performance means that this year
Morgan is promoted to Class A.
Although Class B may be for non-professional racers, the on-track action is just as thrilling
and the competition certainly no less intense. After Morgan, who took the title with a 19-point
margin, the next four drivers were separated by a mere seven points after 12 rounds.
For this season, the field is headed by Hong Kong’s Philip Ma who finished third overall in 2006,
followed by Ricardo Proost who made an excellent full-time debut last year finishing just two
points behind Ma in the category and crossing the line 9th overall at the Macau Grand Prix.
Experienced sports and historic racer, Hong Kong’s William “Chip†Connor returns for a third
season, while Australian Peter Boylan has signed up for his second year with the series.
Returning after an absence of two years are Hong Kong brothers Siu Yuk Lung and Siu Tit
Lung, who will be sharing driving duties this year. Also making a welcome return to the
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is Malaysia’s Tunku Hammam who finished 9th overall in the series’
debut year as Nigel Albon’s partner.
Newcomer Melvin Choo of Singapore will be joining the Class B field. Choo successfully
contested the inaugural JPM Integra Cup Malaysia last year in the Gentleman Championship
category.
Guest driver for the test days will be another Singaporean, newcomer Ian Mao, who has
competed in one makes series, as well as the famous Merdeka 12 hour race.
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