Tan bounces back for podium spot in Carrera Cup Asia

Beaming from ear to ear, local driver Yuey Tan was hugged, high-fived and heartily congratulated by his team-mates, friends and fellow competitors as he made his way around the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia paddock with his third-placed trophy (Class B) yesterday.

The 33-year-old’s joviality was in contrast to his downcast disposition on Saturday. Then, an engine failure had prevented Tan from finishing the race — the first of two in Singapore — as he was forced to retire two laps from the end.

It allowed his title rivals — Thailand’s Vutthikorn Inthraphuvasak (Chang Racing Team), Canada’s Wayne Shen (Modena Motorsports) and Francis Tjia (Openroad Racing Team) — to earn crucial points and cut his lead at the top of the standings.

But Tan, who drives for Team Jebsen, bounced back to finish third in the second race last evening in 28min 52.336sec. Egidio Perfetti (Spark Motorsports) won in 28:20.100, while Tjia finished second (28:50.055).

“It was originally our plan this weekend just to cruise, and try not to put the car on the line,” said Tan who is bidding to become the first Singapore-born driver to win the Class B championship.

“Unfortunately, with the engine that blew up (on Saturday), I thought my championship was gone this year. But anything can happen in motor-racing, and one of my big rivals today took a spin and finished two positions behind me. So the hunt is on again, and I have big hopes of winning the title.”

Tan remains atop the Class B standings on 170 points, while Shen and Tjia are eight points behind in joint-second place. Inthraphuvasak is a further two points behind in fourth. The final two races will be in Shanghai next month, NOAH TAN