The Asian Touring Car Series returns to the Sepang International Circuit this weekend for Rounds 4 & 5 of the 2008 season. 24 drivers have been confirmed to run on 2.807km North circuit in the ATCS as part of the Malaysian Super Series event.
It was a dramatic start to the season during the Asian Festival Of Speed Event just four weeks ago. There were five front running Division 1 drivers vying for the win but Melvin Choo became the first casualty when the engine of his BMW 320si expired before the qualifying sessions leaving the Singaporean to run the first two rounds in his Honda Integra.
This left the crowds catching the epic battle between the local hero, Eddie Lew and the sensational Thai youngster, Jack Lemvard. The duo were joined by 2006 Division 2 champion, Henry Ho, who is participating in Division 1 for the first time and another great Macau driver Mak Ka Lok.
That weekend saw two drivers taking home the first three winning trophies. Lew started the season opener in an outstanding fashion, claiming the lead from pole sitter, Lemvard at the start of the race. Lew held on to the lead for four fantastic laps before overheating brakes caused him to make a mistake, leaving a gap for Lemvard to overtake and take the first chequered flag of the season. Lew took second ahead of Ho while Chan Man Fong, Daniel Amante Gomes and Lui Man Kit took division 2 wins.
Round 2 was equally action packed when the top six finishers of round 1 had to switch positions on the grid for the reverse grid order. Lemvard lost out when he suffered from a tyre valve tear after a scuffle at the start of the race. After having to pit to change tyres he effectively left Lew to claim the Round 2 win, with two Macau drivers, Ho and Mak flanking him on the podium in second and third respectively. Daniel Amante Gomes took the win for Division 2, ahead of Lui Man Kit and Malaysian Eric Yeo.
A heavy shower on the Sunday morning set the stage for the first wet race of the season. Lemvard, recovered from his round 2 melee to secure his dominance, claiming the round 3 win and the early Championship lead. Lew once again stepped up on the podium in second while Choo and his team’s all night effort to fit his BMW race engine, which was rushed over from BMW Motorsport in Munich, were rewarded with a third placed finish, after an outstanding charge from the back of the grid.
The Macau Touring Car Association drivers came up trumps over the weekend with Lui Man Kit of RPM Racing, Daniel Amante Gomes of Power Racing Team and Ng Kin Veng RPM Racing taking the division 2 top three for round 3.
The AFOS outing has placed Jack Lemvard in the lead of the ATCS Drivers Championship with Melvin Choo in second just three points behind. Frank Yee of S&D Motorsports will not be able to turn around his run of bad luck during the AFOS weekend as he will be missing rounds 4 & 5 this weekend due to work commitments.
Eric Yeo leads the Division 2 Drivers Championship with a total of 40 points, just three points ahead of the experienced Hong Kong driver, Danny Stacy Chau and a further eleven points ahead of Man Ting Yu while Adrian Henry D’Silva lies in fourth with 24 points.
In the team championship standings, Liqui Moly Team Engstler leads the Division 1 Team Championship with 42 points while Danny Chau and his teammate, Man has collected a total of 69 points to bring their Team IMSP to the head of the Team Championship standings for Division 2.
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