CTCC / 18 May 2015
Zou Si Rui Challenges for the Win in the JAS Honda Civic During a Controversial Opening-Round of the Chinese Touring Car Series
Collision Relegates Zou Sirui to Fourth; Teammate Henry Ho Scores a Podium Finish
In a dramatic and ultimately controversial first round of the Chinese Touring Car championship, Dong Feng Honda Racing's Henry Ho Wai Khuen finished on the third step of the podium, behind the wheel of the JAS Motorsport Honda Civic.
Both Han and rookie teammate Zou Shi Rui drove a strong race to improve on their seventh and eighth place qualifying positions at a very wet Guangdong international circuit. Indeed, Zou Shi Rui was setting an impressive pace and battled his way into the lead of the race with one lap left to go. Unfortunately, contact ensued between the Honda and second placed Jason Zhang (Kia), resulting in the controversy.
Zhang was provisionally classified as the winner pending a stewards enquiry, but that subsequent investigation confirmed the result, albeit with a five place grid penalty to be served at the next event in Shanghai. Stewards confirmed that Zhang performed an "avoidable excessive attack" on the Honda of Zou Shi Rui, who was therefore relegated to fourth place at the finish, one behind his Macanese teammate Ho.
The series moves to the Shanghai international circuit for the next event on June 27.