Audi R8 LMS Cup Korea, Lights-to-flag victory for Vernay
Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay took an emphatic lights-to-flag victory in the incident-filled Round 3 of the Audi R8 LMS Cup at the Korea International Circuit. Second behind the FAW-VW Audi Racing Team driver was Denmark’s Thomas Fjordbach, while Audi Hong Kong Team driver Ryo Fukuda of Japan rounded out the podium on his Cup debut.
Despite contact at the start which sent him tumbling down the field into 16th, India’s Aditya Patel of Team Audi R8 LMS Cup finished fourth overall, ahead of Chinese Taipei driver Jeffrey Lee. Patel now leads the championship by a single point ahead of Fjordbach and Vernay, both tied on 26. Third in the standings, with 25 points, is defending champion Alex Yoong of Malaysia, who, along with Cup regulars Marchy Lee and Franky Cheng, as well as Audi Sport TT Cup competitor Shaun Thong, is racing at this weekend’s Nürbugring 24 Hours.
Following penalties to Korea’s Andrew Kim and Malaysian Ashraff Dewal, Daniel Bilski of Australia took top honours in the Amateur Cup and now leads the category standings, ahead of Dewal.
The action started from the moment the lights went out; Vernay, from pole, got away at the start, followed by female Swiss driver Rahel Frey of Castrol Racing Team. Behind the leading pair, series newcomer Andrew Kim of Korea made contact with Patel at the first turn. While Kim would cross the line in third place, the E-Rain Racing Team driver would be penalized 30 seconds for the incident and was classified eighth. Newcomers Jake Parsons of Australia and American Miles Maroney also had a coming together, with Parsons later penalized five grid positions for tomorrow’s Round 4.
An incident on the first lap involving Italian Stefano Montesi of Team Betterlife brought out the Safety Car. When racing resumed on the fifth lap, Vernay again held the lead, but behind him Frey had a power steering failure and was forced to retire early after steering fluid began to leak. Frey had a disappointing finish to her day, and will start from 15th on the grid as her early exit prevented her from setting a quick lap time. Audi Korea driver Kyong-Ouk You was also confronted with a challenging race, retiring on lap eight with a gearbox issue.
As Vernay increased his lead – he would finish 9.076 seconds ahead of Fjordbach and with the fastest lap of the race – there was still plenty of drama throughout the field. An incident between Parsons and Dewal forced 20-year old Australian into early retirement with five laps remaining. Meanwhile, Patel worked his way through the field and battled with Lee, finally getting past his rival on lap 11.
Round 3 Results
1. 9/Jean-Karl VERNAY/FRA/4R/FAW-VW Audi Racing Team/30:28.574
2. 54/Thomas FJORDBACH/DEN/Federal-Mogul Motorparts Racing Team/+9.076
3. 27/ Ryo FUKUDA/JPN/4R/Audi Hong Kong Team/+22.016
4. 8/Aditya PATEL/IND/4R/Team Audi R8 LMS Cup/+32.473
5. 7/Jeffrey LEE/TPE/4R/Team Audi Volkswagen Taiwan/+33.265
6. 59/Daniel Bilski/AUS/Am/B-Quik Racing/+36.263
7. 28/Miles MARONEY/USA/Michelin Racing Team/+39.730
8. 5**/Andrew KIM/KOR/Am/E-Rain Racing Team/+43.176
9. 69*/Ashraff DEWAL/MAL/Am/Team AsiaSport/+58.941
10. 77/Jacky YEUNG/HKG/Am/Tiger Racing Team/+1:12.851
11. 6***/Kimi QIN/CHN/SCC Sportscar Club/+1:39.891
12. 36/Sam LOK/HKG/Am/Starspeed Racing/+1:44.105
13. 98/Jed TSAI/TPE/Am/Team Chengdu New Elements/+2:05.018
14. 12/Alex AU/HKG/Am/CTVS Racing Team/1 Lap
Not Classified
11/Kyong-Ouk YOU/KOR/4R/Audi Korea
18/Jake PARSONS/AUS/Audi TEDA Racing Team
66/Rahel FREY/SUI/Castrol Racing
39/Stefano Montesi/ITA/Team Betterlife
* 69: 30 second penalty added to driver’s time for causing a collision
** 5: 30 second penalty added to driver’s time for causing a collision
*** 6: 30 second penalty added to driver’s time for causing a collision
2015 Audi R8 LMS Cup
Overall Classification after Round 3 – Top 10
1. Aditya PATEL – 27
2. Thomas FJORDBACH – 26
3. Jean-Karl VERNAY – 26
4. Alex YOONG – 25
5. Rahel FREY – 19
6. Ryo FUKUDA – 15
7. Marchy LEE – 12
8. Franky CHENG – 10
9. Jeffrey LEE – 10
10. Daniel BILSKI – 8
Am Cup Classification after Round 3 – Top 5
1. Daniel BILSKI – 31
2. Ashraff DEWAL – 30
3. Samson CHAN – 25
4. Jacky YEUNG – 20
5. Sam LOK – 20
Team Cup Classification after Round 3 – Top 5
1. FAW-VW Audi Racing Team/4R – 36
2. Team Audi R8 LMS Cup/4R – 27
3. Federal-Mogul Motorparts Racing Team – 26
4. Audi TEDA Racing Team – 25
5. Castrol Racing Team – 19
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