Aidan Read jumps into second in the 2016 Formula Masters China Championship after a strong first win and second place podium finish at Zhuhai International Circuit.
The weekend started with Aidan taking his free practice battle with Jeffrey Ye into both qualifying sessions for the front row positions behind pole sitter German Philip Hamprecht, with the young Aussie qualifying second and third for the two main races.
Race 1 was a solid win from turn one to finish, with Read grabbing the lead on the start and holding off the championship leader who was looking for an opportunity to attack that never came. The second fastest race lap secured another front row start for Sunday morning’s race, which then delivered a second podium finish of the weekend.
Aidan quoted: “My first win was very good. Starting from second, I got first on the start and never left! It feels good! The second race was good too, finishing second. We had the pace for a while and we have been getting podiums but it’s good to finally have some results to back it up. It feels like the start of a run of form.”
The last race didn’t go to plan when 17-year-old Read collected some damage from a second lap shunt, preventing him from another point scoring finish and leaving him second on the standings behind the championship leader Hamprecht.
“I started third, it was an ok start and I put myself second. We were all on a bit of a pack after the first corner and on the second lap I got hit from behind. I spun and received some damage which forced us to retire. There’s nothing I could had done, but that’s how the sport is. It was difficult because it all went well until then. We will be back at it in Thailand, we’ve got the speed and the pace.” Aidan added “The Championship is looking good; I am now second. The last race was a bit of a set back with a DNF but we are still on the early stages. We will go for wins!”
The Formula Masters China Series will resume in Buriram International Circuit, Thailand, on the 23-24 of July.