THE NEW SEASON HAS BEGUN!
The start of the 2019 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season is finally here! I must admit, it has been a long time out of the car, the Singapore GP in September 2018 being the last time I was behind the wheel so it was mega to be back for the pre-season test in Shanghai.
It’s been fantastic to be back in the fold in Asia, after a season away from all of my friends and colleagues at the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia. It has been amongst the best years of my life and it was great to be back. Everyone has been massively welcoming and it feels like I never left.
This season, Ill be working alongside the same engineer as the Singapore GP 2018 in the highly experienced Dutchman, Patrick De Groot and teammates Li Chao and Chris van der Drift which is also something that’s always good fun! I know all of three of them well and I’m sure things will fit perfectly with ease. After being with the same engineer from 2013-2017, it has been an eye opener to work with Marcel Schmidt in Europe last season and now Patrick, definitely changing my view on my perspective of motor racing.
It is quite obvious that things have gotten a lot more competitive in the year that I went to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup! The pre-season test in Shanghai has shown there are four obvious cars all capable of winning races in the Pro Am category, along with two outsiders that are lurking in the background should anything happen at the front.
Based on outright raw pace, Chinese Porsche dealer driver, Bao Jin Long was the man setting the pace as the reigning champion, setting a best time over the three days of testing at a 2.08.4 with myself, two tenths adrift on a 2.08.6. My arch rival, Francis Tjia was also a further three tenths behind, making the top 3 very close together!
I am mega pumped for the opening round at the Shanghai F1 GP Weekend in just under a month! It promises to have some great events and festivities as Formula 1 will be celebrating their 1000th Grand Prix in the history of the sport, and it will be a privilege to be part of that fantastic milestone! Let’s hope it isn’t a Lewis Hamilton race! :)
