Tan focused on finishing the job

Tan focused on finishing the job

The finish line beckons for Yuey Tan at the Shanghai International Circuit as he bids to make motor sports history for Singapore.

Ahead of the final two races today, the 33-year-old leads a tight four-way battle for the Class B championship in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series.

With 170 points from 12 races, Tan is eight points clear of Hong Kong's Francis Tjia, while Thai Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak and Wayne Shen, also from Hong Kong, are both two points further adrift.

The top three finishers in each race earn 20, 18 and 16 points respectively.

No Singapore-born racer has finished atop either the second tier - which is for semi-professionals and serious amateurs - or the elite Class A.

"It's hard not to think about the title when it's so close but I must focus on the job at hand," said Tan, who races for Hong Kong-based Team Jebsen, two-time overall winners of the popular Formula One support race series.

"I will push as hard as I can in these two races. But we need to be smart about it too - the main thing is collecting enough points to top the standings."

The Singapore speedster settled for second spot in Class B in the past two seasons with Dorr Havelock Racing.

While he has yet to win a race this season, six podium finishes have been secured in his Porsche 911 GT3, which tops out at 300kmh.

Compatriot Ringo Chong of Team Kangshun is ninth on the standings with 63 points, finishing a season-best fourth in Singapore last month.

In qualifying at the 5.451km Shanghai circuit yesterday, Tan clinched pole position for his category, and ninth overall.

The Singaporean had won on the same track last year.

"The other title chasers are separated by less than half a second so I guess it's going to be another dramatic race, which has been the case lately," said Tan, who suffered engine failure - his first no-finish of the year - at the Singapore race.

"Let's hope history repeats itself and I win again in Shanghai. The team can then have a well-deserved celebration on Saturday night."


This article was first published on Oct 31, 2015.
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