Baird makes Thunderous Return with Round 1 Victory

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1 April 12, 2015 No. 04/15 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Round 1 Baird makes Thunderous Return with Round 1 Victory Shanghai. Clearwater Racing s Craig Baird added another Porsche Cup win to his world record tally with a superb victory in Round 1 of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia at the Shanghai International Circuit. The New Zealand driver seized the lead from pole-sitter Rodolfo Avila on the opening lap and was not to relinquish it, despite fierce challenges from newcomer and fellow countryman Chris van der Drift of Kamlung Racing who crossed the line second. Team Porsche Holding s Martin Ragginger claimed the final podium place after an epic battle with Avila. In Class B, an equally-heated contest between pole-sitter, Singapore s Yuey Tan of Team Jebsen, and Max Twigg saw the Australian snatch the win. Third in the category, for non-professional drivers, was Modena Motorsports Wayne Shen. Baird, who returns to the series for a full season for the first time since 2010, was thrilled to have marked his comeback with a victory, setting the fastest lap of the race for good measure: To come out of the blocks and win the first round is very, very satisfying, especially with [team owner Mok Weng Sun] giving me this opportunity. Van der Drift, meanwhile, who is competing in the first Porsche series of his impressive career, was surprised but delighted to find himself on the Shanghai F1 Grand Prix podium after his debut race: It was good to have Kiwis one and two! I was a bit slow with the lights as I wasn t sure about the clutch and how to get if off the line! The first lap was good and I managed to stay out of trouble into Turn 1 and to get up to third straight away. From there I had to wait and see what happened with the car as I had no idea what to expect. I tried to be as consistent as possible. Martin was quite quick at the end, but I was

2 able to work out where he was quick and where I was quick. It was good experience and I sort of know a bit better what to expect tomorrow. With two-time and reigning Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Earl Bamber, since catapulted to the heady heights of Porsche LMP1 competition, also hailing from New Zealand, the success of that country s drivers can be a source of frustration for the field. Joked Ragginger: It was not too bad, but I just have a little problem with those Kiwis! It was a good start for me. I was trying to pass Craig on the outside, he opened a little bit, and I then was completely outside. Chris came on the inside and I couldn t hold him. In the end it was a really hard fight with Rodolfo. It feels like he has 5km more top speed than anybody else, so it was difficult to pass him. As the lights went out for the start of the 2015 season, Avila got away cleanly from pole but was almost immediately challenged, first by Ragginger, then Baird, with an audacious move by van der Drift demoting him to third by the end of the opening lap. Fourth after the start melee, Ragginger lost no time launching his attack on Avila, headlights ablaze. Behind the leading four, Budweiser Team Absolute Racing s Tung Ho-Pin, who had made a superb start, Team Yonda Dongfang s Ro Charlz Skyangel and Alif Hamdan were locked in battle, before the young Malaysian disappointingly retired prematurely from the race. In Class B, Tan had lost his pole position advantage at the first corner, but reclaimed the lead before a cat and mouse duel ensued, bringing the Shanghai crowds to their feet. With tyre wear taking its toll though, in the closing laps of the race Tan succumbed to the Twigg s unrelenting attack. Things were no less exciting at the front of the pack, with Ragginger finally finding a way past Avila on Lap 8, and fighting off the furious

3 Macau driver before breaking away and taking the chase to van der Drift up ahead. Action-packed from start to flag, the closing stages of the 12-lap thriller saw PICC Team StarChase driver Nico Menzel, who had closed up to Skyangel in sixth, get alongside as the pair crossed the start/finish line two abreast into the final lap. Skyangel held firm, however, to cross the line sixth behind Tung. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is back in action tomorrow at the Shanghai F1 Grand Prix, with Round 2, where Avila once again starts from pole position, this time with Ragginger alongside. On the second row are Tung and championship leader, Baird. With the opening round of the season providing plenty of Shanghai surprises, a certainty for Round 2 is to expect the unexpected as the region s premier international sportscar championship continues its conquest of Asia. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2015 Round 1 - Results Pos No Driver/Nationality Clas Entrant/Nationality Time s 1 12 Craig BAIRD (NZL) Clearwater Racing (SIN) 26: Chris VAN DER DRIFT (NZL) Kamlung Racing (HKG) Martin RAGGINGER (AUT) Team Porsche Holding (CHN) 4 20 Rodolfo AVILA (MAC) Team Jebsen (HKG) TUNG Ho-Pin (CHN) Budweiser Team Absolute Racing (HKG) 6 8 Ro Charlz SKYANGEL (SIN) Team Yonda Dongfang (CHN) 7 99 Nico MENZEL (GER) PICC Team StarChase (CHN) 8 98 *Max TWIGG (AUS) B Max Twigg (AUS) Yuey TAN (SIN) B Team Jebsen (HKG) Wayne SHEN (HKG) B Modena Motorsports (HKG) BAO Jin Long (CHN) Zheng Tong Auto (CHN) *Andersen P MARTONO (INA) B Team Kangshun (CHN) Francis TJIA (HKG) B OpenRoad Racing (HKG)

4 14 9 LI Chao (CHN) B Team Betterlife (CHN) Vutthikorn INTHRAPHUVASAK B Chang Racing Team (THA) (THA) Johnson HUANG (TPE) B Team BC Racing Team (TPE) Christian CHIA (CAN) B OpenRoad Racing (HKG) Michael S. (INA) B OpenRoad Racing (HKG) *Samson CHAN (HKG) B Samson Chan (HKG) John SHEN (HKG) B Modena Motorsports (HKG) ZHU Jun Han (CHN) B Absolute Racing (HKG) Suttiluck BUNCHAROEN (THA) B True Visions Motorsports Thailand (THA) Hugues RIPERT (HKG) B Spark Motorsport (HKG) FUNG Yui Sum (HKG) B Arrows Racing (HKG) Paul TRESIDDER (AUS) B Paul Tresidder (AUS) Sontaya KUNPLOME (THA) B Racing Spirit Thailand 1 Lap (THA) 22 *SIU Tit Lung (HKG) B LKM Racing (HKG) DNF 72 Alif HAMDAN (MAS) Alif Hamdan Motorsports DNF (MAS) *Non series registered Fastest lap: Craig Baird/Clearwater Racing/2:09.555/Lap 2/ kph Overall Points after Round 1 (top 5) Pos Comp No Driver Entrant Points 1 12 Craig Baird Clearwater Racing Chris van der Drift Kamlung Racing Martin Ragginger Team Porsche Holding Rodolfo Avila Team Jebsen Tung Ho-Pin Budweiser Team Absolute Racing 12 Class B Points after Round 1 (top 5) Pos Comp No Driver Entrant Points 1 98 Max Twigg Max Twigg Yuey Tan Team Jebsen Wayne Shen Modena Motorsports Andersen P Team Kangshun 14 Martono 3 21 Francis Tjia OpenRoad Racing 12 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2015 Series Partners

5 Supporting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia are two of the most recognised names in international motorsport, Mobil1 and Michelin. Mobil and Porsche have been partners since Close co-operation in research and development has led to every new Porsche engine being filled with Mobil1 high-performance lubricant. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia drivers also have the advantage of racing on cuttingedge tyres supplied by series partner Michelin. The consistent performance and leading technology of Michelin tyres constantly improve the performance of many teams in international motorsport. The partnership between Michelin and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia has emerged from a worldwide agreement signed between Porsche AG and the Michelin group. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is organised and promoted by Malaysian based Motorsport Asia Ltd. Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 991) The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsport version of the new 911 GT3 (Type 991). The near-standard race car, based on the seventh generation of the 911, made its debut in Asia in 2014, having previously run exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8-litre, six cylinder boxer engine which, due to the weight optimized modular race exhaust system, generates 460hp (338 KW) at 7,500 revs per minute, ten horsepower more than its predecessor. Power is delivered to the rear axle via a race clutch and a Porsche Motorsport designed six-speed dog-type gearbox with a mechanical limited slip differential. For the first time in a Porsche makes cup race car, gear shifting is activated with paddle shifts on the steering wheel. The single piece race wheels with centre mount were also newly designed by Porsche Motorsport. The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front and by ten millimetres at the rear axle to now measure 31 centimetres. Compared to its predecessor, the wheelbase has grown by 100 millimetres, improving handling at the limit, while Porsche Motorsport newly designed the forged single-piece 18 inch race rims with central locking. The new racing brake system improves the endurance qualities of the 911 GT3 Cup, and the

6 internally vented and slotted steel brake discs are operated by aluminium sixpiston racing calipers in the front, and four-piston units at the rear. Safety features have also been further enhanced, and drivers are protected by a newly calculated safety cage and newly designed race seat, while a rescue hatch in the roof enables easy access and extrication. Like the road going version, the body of the new 911 GT3 Cup combines maximum rigidity with low weight thanks to its aluminium-steel construction, and weighs in at just 1,175 kilograms. About Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Preparing for its 13 th season in 2015, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia blasted off the starting grid in 2003 and has never looked back. Joining the family of hugely successful Porsche one make series, it is now firmly established as the Number One racing series in Asia. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia offers sporting competition at the highest level across the region and is truly international, with competitors from all over Asia as well as Europe and the Pacific. The field is made up of a combination of professional racing drivers and ambitious and talented gentlemen drivers. About Porsche China Porsche was founded by Prof. Ferdinand Porsche in Stuttgart, Germany in 1931 and was then transformed into a sports car manufacturer by Ferry Porsche in Porsche has been known as one of the most prestigious automobile brands in the world for decades. Under the guiding credo of Intelligent Performance, Porsche leads the way in providing a new generation of sports cars that prove performance and efficiency can be perfectly combined. Since entering the Chinese market in 2001, Porsche China has been dedicated to bringing the sporty genes and innovative spirit of the marque to Porsche enthusiasts in this dynamic market. In Porsche s network in China, customers can experience the unlimited appeal of Porsche s iconic sports cars: the legendary 911 series, the renowned Boxster and Cayman mid-engine sports cars,

7 the luxurious Cayenne premium SUV, the dynamic and pioneering Macan SUV, the sleek four-door Panamera Gran Turismo and the futuristic 918 Spyder super sports car. Each demonstrates excellence in performance, exquisite design, and consistent commitment to perfect quality that Porsche embodies. Across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, there are now 80 Porsche Centres in operation, ensuring that Porsche customers across the country receive the hallmark personalised care that sets Porsche apart around the world. In 2014, Porsche has delivered a spectacular sales record of 46,931 deliveries across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. In 2015, Porsche China expects to continue another year of outstanding performance in the Chinese market. For further enquiries, please contact: Ms Chester Zhang Supervisor Public Relations and Press Motorsport Porsche China Tel: (86-21) Fax: (86-21) chester.zhang@porsche.cn Website:

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