Eurasia Motorsport enjoyed yet more success as Aidan Read jumped into second in the 2016 Formula Masters China Series (FMCS) with a strong win and a second place finish at the Zhuhai International Circuit (18-19 June).
The weekend began with Read taking a free practice tussle with Jeffrey Ye into both qualifying sessions and the young Aussie racer would qualify in second and third behind pole sitter Philip Hamprecht for the two main races.
Race one saw Read take a strong win – his first since dominating the Formula Masters China Winter Series at Sepang, Malaysia earlier this year – by leading from turn one to the chequered flag.
The Haigh and Hastings-backed teenager grabbed the initiative at the start and held off the resurgent championship leader. Read recorded the second fastest racing lap and in doing so secured another front row starting position for Sunday morning’s clash, which concluded with another podium result.
Sadly, 17-year old Read sustained damage in a collision during the third and final FMCS race of the weekend at the ZIC and a DNF meant he emerged from the weekend lying second in the championship standings, behind Hamprecht.
Read said: “My first win was very good. Starting from second, I got first on the start and never left! It feels good! The second race was good too, finishing second. We had the pace for a while and we have been getting podiums, but it’s good to finally have some results to back it up. It feels like the start of a run of form.
“I started race three from third, it was an ok start and I put myself second. We were all in a bit of a pack after the first corner and on the second lap I got hit from behind. I span and received some damage, which forced us to retire. There’s nothing I could had done, but that’s how the sport is. It was difficult because it all went well until then. We will be back at it in Thailand. We’ve got the speed and the pace. The championship is looking good; I am now second. The last race was a bit of a set back with a DNF but we are still on the early stages. We will go for wins!”
The Formula Masters China Series will resume at the Chang International Circuit, Thailand on 23-24 July.
