An exciting end to the inaugural season
RACE 11
Pole sitter Marcus Chye got off to a flying start in his 420R as his rival Gilbert Ang was very slow off the line allowing Tan Pye Sen to beat him into turn 1 where he held off the young champion for four laps.
The Supersport class had a close start with Imran diving on the inside of Halim Mu’Azzam at turn 7 as third placed Shirendra Lawrence spun at turn 8 and dropping back by 20 seconds.
All attention was the top three 420Rs with only 1.5s separating them with Gilbert Ang foxing Pye at every opportunity, hungry to get past and catch Marcus.
Under pressure from Gilbert, Pye locks up at turn 4 letting the young racer dive on the inside and start is attack on rival Marcus.
Imran established a strong lead in the Supersport class and would keep through to the chequered flag with Halim Mu’Azzam in second and Leon Chin securing another podium in third place.
For the second half of the race it would be another bumper-to-bumper fight between Marcus and Gilbert with the later foxing at every opportunity, trying to dive on the inside at turns 4, 10, 11 and 14.
Marcus was doing a great job making his car as wide as possible until two laps to go when we broke too late forcing himself wide and opening the door for Gilbert to storm off into the lead and taking his ninth win of the season. Pye had a spin at turn 15 ending his race in third.
RACE 12
The final race of the 2015 championship was upon us as Gilbert stormed off at the start while Shirendra passed Leona.
Marcus wasn’t going to let Gilbert escape too easily, hounding the rear of the champions car with Pye close behind hoping the two in front would collide handing him the lead.
It was another close battle in the Supersport class with only 1 second separating the four drivers. Halim got right beside Imran but made a mistake sending him to the back of the field and letting Shirendra attack Imran for the lead.
Whilst Shirendra was working hard to keep up with Imran it was Leona behind him who was foxing, pulling out of Shirendra’s slip stream at any opportunity to pass for second place. She finally pulled of a move under late braking into turn 9 and closing the door to secure second position.
As the positions in the 420R class looked settled, Leona was having one of her best drives all year fighting for the lead, trying to pass Imran at turn 9. It wasn’t until down the pit straight that Imran missed a gear and suddenly slowed right down letting Leona through to the lead. But right behind her Shirendra took advantage of the drag and overtook Leona for the lead.
With Leona retaking the lead on the inside of turn 4 all the Supersport cars were bunched up again in a three-way fight for the lead around turn 9, forcing Halim to hit the rear end of Shirendra’s car. Leona cam out on top in the lead but it would be a tough fight against the super fast Imran Shaharom who eventually took the lead at turn 13 and went of to win the race.
In the final two laps Leona had secured a well deserved second place while Shirendra was trying every trick in the book to pass Halim for the final podium position, but to no avail.
Talking about the final race of the year, championship CEO Campbell Tupling was more than happy; “You couldn’t ask for a better finish to the season. Having the top four cars in the Supersport class only 1 second apart for most of the race, with the leading changing more then four times is wonderful proof that the Caterham Motorsport Championship is one of the most exciting series in Asia.”
After the podium presentation all the drivers, TOC crew and everyone involved in the championship enjoyed the first championship trophy presentation, where Gilbert Ang was crowned the inaugural 420R Caterham motorsport Champion. “It feels great. The championship wasn’t easy especially the last four racing having tough battles with Marcus Chye,” said Gilbert. “It’s been really fun driving the Caterham as it’s not easy to run away in this car. It’s close racing which I love.”
Halim Mu’Azzam took championship honours in the Supersport class, “First I would like to thank the organisers of the championship, especially Campbell, and to the crew who really took care of my car, and my fellow racers. This car is so fun to drive and I’m looking forward to next year.”
There is only a six week break until the start of the 2016 season on January 23rd when the Caterham Motorsport Championship will be supporting the Asia Le Mans Series, before the Sepang International Circuit closes for a few months for resurfacing.
