Alex and Marchy Final Lap Drama In Audi R8 LMS Cup Race

ADDERLY FONG with KLM Racing scored his 2nd Audi R8 LMS Cup victory following a dramatic last-lap coming together between then-race leaders Marchy Lee of Audi Ultra and Audi GQ driver Alex Yoong at the Zhuhai International Circuit.

Fong was lying a distant 3rd before inheriting the lead after Yoong’s attempted overtaking maneuver resulted in heavy contact between the Malaysian and Lee of Hong Kong. Jeffrey Lee won his 2nd straight Amateur Cup victory and finished 2nd overall, with Yoong 3rd. Marchy Lee finished 13th.

Starting from pole, Marchy Lee got away cleanly and quickly began to create a gap. Fong, who had started 2nd, fell down the order to 4th, with Team Erdos Xinan driver Sun Zheng and Yoong ahead of him. As Marchy Lee pushed, Yoong worked to get by Sun, eventually overtaking the young Chinese driver on the 5th lap.

Yoong then set his sights on Lee, who, by Lap 7 had nearly a 5-second lead. Fong continued to pile on the pressure on Sun, who, on Lap 10, dropped down to 7th after spinning on Turn 4, eventually finishing 6th.

The 2nd half of the race saw Yoong close the gap on Marchy Lee, whose tyres had started to affect his pace, while Jeffrey Lee zeroed in on Fong as the Pauian Archiland J-Fly Racing driver fought for the final podium position.

The drama started on the penultimate lap, with Yoong getting by Marchy Lee to take the race lead. However, seconds later, on Turn 1 of the final lap, Marchy Lee grabbed an opportunity and took back the lead.

A determined Yoong, however, kept up the fight and on Turn 4 came alongside his rival and the two made contact.

Although Yoong went into the gravel, he recovered to finish third. The damage on Marchy Lee’s car meant that the Round 3 winner could not finish the race.

Fong took advantage of the contact between the two front-runners and although he had been a distant 3rd, quickly found himself promoted to the top of the podium. Team Audi R8 LMS Cup driver Aaron Kwok did not start Round 4 due to the damage to his Audi R8 LMS Cup car during a racing incident in Round 3.