Teamwork Motorsport’s Alex Hui battled to a top six finish in the final round of the 2014 SINOPEC LUBRICANTS China Touring Car Championship (CTCC) at the ultra-modern Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday (12 October).
The Guangdong-based outfit spent the build-up to raceday getting to grips with the smaller 33mm restrictor imposed on it by CTCC officials during last weekend’s Beijing round (4-5 October), cobbling together a dyno away from its workshop and attempting to develop an effective engine map with only limited data available.
A severe reduction in horsepower was the result, although both Teamwork Motorsport drivers, Sunny Wong and Hui, drove superbly to qualify their new-for-2014 Citroen C-Elysees in eighth and tenth places respectively with a confidence-inspiring half a second deficit to the top three.
After penalties carried over from Beijing were imposed, Wong and Hui took the start of Sunday’s race in sixth and ninth, although a botched launch saw Hui tumble to the very back of the field
The new Honda entrants, meanwhile, had a distinct pace advantage and disappeared into the distance, which suggested the CTCC’s balance of performance is currently ineffective, but the remainder of the field were embroiled in a super-competitive race.
Looking to make amends for a dreadful start, Hui was on a charge and cleared the tail-end runners to get back on terms with teammate Wong and it was on lap five that he disposed of his fellow Citroen driver for eighth place in a straight-line drag race.
A mechanical issue forced Wong to pit on the sixth tour of the 4.6mile Shanghai International Circuit, as Hui engaged in an intense nose-to-tail brawl with one of the 333 Racing Volkswagen Polos.
The fight raged on until the final lap, when the Hong Kong racer pulled off a well-executed passing move to finish in a strong sixth position and an elated Hui, said: “I’m delighted with my own performance today, as the Teamwork Motorsport Citroen C-Elysee was good and I drove well while in some great battles with the 333 Racing Volkswagen Polo. It’s fantastic to come out on top and finish sixth. I think I could have passed him sooner but I chose caution, as I really wanted to bring the car home for the team today.”
Wong added: “I had a good weekend up until qualifying and was racing well when my car developed a mechanical problem that reduced my straight-line speed and forced me to stop. I think we had the basis of a good car, but we are still lacking just a little against the manufacturer teams.”