Rookie Teen Impresses with Double Podium & Win
It was another successful race weekend for the Caterham Motorsport Championship at the Sepang International Circuit with mixed results and more close racing.
Entering his first Caterham Motorsport Championship weekend was 15 year-old Nazim Azman from Malaysia. With previous experience in the Asia Cup Series, Nazim quickly proved his speed by claiming pole position by 3 seconds on a damp track.
RACE 7
But experienced racer and multiple Caterham Motorsport Championship winner Marcus Chye wasn’t going to let the youngster have an easy time and quickly got passed on the inside of Turn 4 for the lead in Race 7.
Rocky Siow was in top form all weekend with a perfectly set up car. He overtook Nazim for second place and by half distance passed Marcus for the lead and the win in the 420R class.
The young rookie Nazim was no match for the experience of Marcus, who was driving a perfect defensive race for the last part, holding off the eager rookie until the penultimate lap when Nazim had a better drag down the main straight and was able to pass Marcus on the inside of Turn 1 to secure second place.
It was another weekend of tight battles in the Supersport class as rivals Halim Mu’Azzam and Sidqi Ahmad once again fight tooth and nail for the top spot.
Exchanging places several times around the circuit it was Halim who was able to fend off the challenging Sidqi to cross the chequered flag in the lead by only 0.700.
Shirendra Lawrence had an impressive race by climbing up through the field to fight for third place after a spin on the first lap. The Sri Lankan was able to catch the midfield by half distance and had an exciting fight with Malcolm Chang for third position. Taking a dive on the inside of Turn 15, Shirendra was able to secure third spot as Malcolm spun out of contention.
RACE 8
It was one of the best comeback drives in the Supersport class with Shirendra Lawrence spinning at turn 4 on the first lap relegating himself to last position as the field stormed away. And after a few laps of very close battles between the Sri Lankan and Sidqi Ahmad and Malcolm Chang, Shirendra fought his way to the top step of the podium, taking a well deserved win.
All eyes were on Marcus Chye in the 420R class as he started from the pits and easily sliced through the Supersport field in a determined drive to catch the two front runners Nazim and Rocky.
Marcus was gaining 2 seconds a lap on the front runners which meant he would catch them with 3 laps to go. He did so, but the fight for first was too intense for the experienced race winner to find a way past, having to settle for third place.
For most of the race Rocky and Nazim were exchanging places with the young rookie cementing his lead and driving a perfect defensive race, closing the door on the challenges of Rocky.
On the last lap, Rocky made one more attempt to dive on the inside of turn 15, giving him the right drag alongside Nazim, but it wasn’t enough and the rookie took his first Caterham Motorsport Championship race win by less than a second.
RESULTS
420R Class- Race 7
- Rocky Siow
- Nazim Azman
- Marcus Chye
Supersport Class- Race 7
- Halim Mu’Azzam
- Side Ahmad
- Shirendra Lawrence
- Malcolm Chang
- Raaji Bharji
- Sheran Fernando
420R Class- Race 8
- Nazim Azman
- Rocky Siow
- Marcus Chye
Supersport Class- Race 8
- Shirendra Lawrence
- Malcolm Chang
- Side Ahmad
- Halim Mu’Azzam
- Raaji Bharji
- Sheran Fernando
