Yuey Tan: This one is going down to the wire!
Singaporean racing driver, Yuey Tan is getting ready for the biggest race event of his 2015 season at the Porsche Carrera Cup season finale. It is just under two weeks away before Tan will depart Singapore for Shanghai, in what promises to be one of the most nail biting season finales in his seven years with the Carrera Cup Asia. Although the thirty-three year old Singaporean was in the class B championship hunt till the final race of 2014, it was Malaysia’s Alif Hamdan that was a staggering 12 points ahead so the chase last season was always going to be difficult for Tan.
Things are however quite a different proposition this season, with Tan going into the last race weekend of the season 8 points clear of his closest rivals Francis Tjia and Wayne Shen, with Thailand’s Vuitthikorn just two points adrift of the Modena Motorsport teammates. “There is definitely everything to play for in Shanghai,” said Tan. “This is a four horse race on the way to the title but only one winner, so three of us are going to be pretty disappointed. Though it’s pretty exciting and I can’t wait to hit the tarmac at the Shanghai International Circuit.”
Four rounds prior, it was Modena Motorsport’s Francis Tjia that had the momentum as he was closing on Tan in the championship hunt, though an unfortunate incident at the Sepang GP caused Tjia to DNF, looking like his title hopes were all but over. Though in Singapore, with Tan going through engine failure and 100 Plus Racing’s Vuitthikorn taking a spin after a spirited overtaking move on Tjia, he is not firmly back in the hunt.
“As they say for good or bad, that’s motor racing! It is full of good and bad moments though you just have to pick yourself up and get on with it! As the great Murray Walker once said; anything can happen in Grand Prix Racing, and it usually does.”
It has been a consistent season for Tan, having finished all of the races up until round 11, whereby he suffered engine failure at the Singapore GP on the Marina Bay Circuit.
“It’s been tough because this season, we haven’t really been in a position of dominance or luck, not managing to take victory yet even though I have taken two pole positions. Though I always thought that consistency is everything and if I managed to take the title home without winning a race, so be it! Although it would be nice of course to get a couple of victories. Though the engine failure in Singapore changed the championship, dropping 20 points which really changed my advantage from 17 points to a mere 1 point so that was hard to swallow. It was a shitty moment. Got to battle on!”
Tan heads to Shanghai needing a 2nd and 3rd place finish in the two feature races that will take place two and a half weeks from now.
“Im going to need a double podium finish, which has only happen in Japan this year, so I will need to be firmly focused on the job. There are so many good drivers in our category and we have all been nipping points off one another all season. Probably why I am still leading the championship even though I haven’t had a victory this season. Its great to be driving in this era of the Carrera Cup Asia where the old crew of Francis Tjia, Wayne Shen and Ringo Chong have lifted their game immensely over the last few seasons. Its been a pleasure and we all want to win! Lets see what happens!”
