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Tang relishing Porsche SuperCup opportunity

SINGAPORE — With two wins under his belt after just six races in this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA), it has already been a remarkable and impressive debut season for local race driver Andrew Tang.

Singaporean race driver Andrew Tang (right) with his team-mate Zhang Dasheng (left) of China and their trainer Earl Bamber. The two drivers will make ­Supercup history as the first all-Asian team to compete in Porsche’s top one-make competition. Photo: PCCA

Singaporean race driver Andrew Tang (right) with his team-mate Zhang Dasheng (left) of China and their trainer Earl Bamber. The two drivers will make ­Supercup history as the first all-Asian team to compete in Porsche’s top one-make competition. Photo: PCCA

SINGAPORE — With two wins under his belt after just six races in this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA), it has already been a remarkable and impressive debut season for local race driver Andrew Tang.

But the 21-year-old’s season got even better over the weekend, after he was given the opportunity to compete in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup challenge at the prestigious Hockenheim Circuit.

The Porsche China Junior Team driver was one of two racers in the PCCA, with the other being China’s Zhang Dasheng of Fun88 Team Sunfonda, to be chosen to take part in the Supercup.

Representing the Porsche China Junior Team in its first participation in the event, the pair will make Supercup history as the first all-Asian team to compete in Porsche’s top one-make competition, which will see drivers from around a dozen countries — including Germany, the United Kingdom and France — test their mettle against some of the world’s toughest competition.

The Singaporean’s selection is just reward for his early season success — he secured his maiden PCCA race win in Fuji, Japan in June, before following that up with another victory at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand last month.

As a result, Tang — who beat about 100 candidates from Asia last December to secure a contract and a 1 million yuan (S$202,000) sponsorship with the Porsche China Junior Programme — finds himself third in the championship standings on 92 points, just 16 points off leader Maxime Jousse of Kamlung Racing.

But competing in the Supercup meant that Tang was able to test himself against some of the best drivers in the world, as he lined up against 25 other drivers hailing from Porsche’s other one-make sports car racing series on the 4.7km-long track over the weekend.

Despite the stern competition, Tang still managed to acquit himself well during qualifying on Saturday, as he secured 11th on the starting grid with a fastest laptime of 1 minute 43.730secs. The PCCA rookie was just 0.908secs behind pole sitter Sven Muller of Lechner MSG Racing Team.

Reflecting on this opportunity to gain valuable race experience in his fledgling career, Tang, who was coached by two-time PCCA champion Earl Bamber during the competition, told TODAY: “It’s definitely an amazing experience to be here because this (Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup) series is the best in the world, and it’s also an honour to be able to race on such a tough and distinguished track as Hockenheim.

“So far, I’ve really learnt a lot in terms of driving and racing techniques from just one weekend of racing against all these high level drivers, especially with the help of my coach, Earl. I hope I will be able to come back again in the future to race here.

“I feel like I’m returning to Asia stronger from the weekend and I will definitely use this experience to continue my improvement as a racing driver and finish off the PCCA season strong.”

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