The third round of the China Circuit Championship (CCC) was held at the Zhuhai Circuit (lap distance 4.3km) in Guangdong Province on May 28, 2006. Xiao Le He, driving the Dongfeng Nissan Ghiasports Team's Tiida in the 1,600cc class, won the race for the first time in his career, marking up the second straight victory for the Ghiasports Team, following the previous race won by his team mate, Hai Sheng Guo in April. With this victory, Xiao moves up to lead the driver's championship, and the Ghiasports Team is also top-placed in the team's championship.
The day of the final race, Sunday, May 28, started off with rain in the morning. At one point thunder and torrential downpours threatened to cancel the race. However, by the time the 1,600cc class cars took their positions on the starting grid, the rain had eased off, leaving cloudy skies. The rainwater had not yet drained from the surface of the course, and the 19-lap final race started off with wet tire conditions.
Hai Sheng Guo got off to a good start in the #19 Tiida from third on the grid. Rounding the first corner, Hai was in second place, tailing the #9 Geely. The #20 Tiida had started the race from pole position, but for a time dropped to fourth place, before moving up again to take third place from the #3 VW Polo. On the third lap, #20 fell to fourth again, before retaking third place on the next lap. Thereafter the Tiida retained third, moving up to take second place when the #19 Tiida spun out of the race on the sixth lap.
The #9 Geely pitted on Lap 10 to change tires and #20 moved in to the top spot. With the water now draining gradually from the track,
the spray generated by the cars had lessened. The conditions did not require a conversion to racing slicks, however, and the team waited until the 15th lap before bringing the #20 in for its stop. The #20 car changed to new rain tires and exited the pits still ahead of the #9 Geely, Xiao driving the remaining laps with care and attention. With the checkered flag at the end of the 19th lap, Xiao secured top position, his first-ever victory, and a pole-to-win.
The #19 Tiida lost time getting out of the gravel bed after spinning off the track. Despite having fallen such a long way behind, #19 recovered to 11th position. However it spun out again on the final lap, and returning to the track this time, a stone got caught in the timing belt, breaking it. With the vehicle's water temperature rising, #19 stopped track-side and ended its race.
In the 2,000cc class race held on the same day, the Team 778 Sunny placed third.
The next race is scheduled for August 27 at Shanghai International Circuit.
