2008.05.01
China Circuit Championship
Shanghai F1 Circuit, (April 20, 2008)
Last year, the Nissan Tiida, run by the Dongfeng Nissan Ghia Team, struggled in the battle with the rival VW Polo. To increase competitiveness, the car's center of gravity was lowered, aerodynamics were revamped, and cornering efficiency, which was a goal remaining from the previous season, was improved. With these developments the Nissan Tiida went into the qualifying session on Saturday. The #4 car, which finished 3rd in the same race last year, used the change in the weather to its benefit and took pole position while the rain momentarily stopped and the track surface was dry. The #3 machine, series champion from 2 years ago, took 2nd on the grid, and it was the Nissan Tiida dominating the front row. With strong spring winds and under cloudy skies, the first CCC race began at 13:30 with roughly 500 Nissan Tiida fans watching. The #2 VW had a fast start and led into the first corner, but the #3 Tiida calmly waited for a chance to pass the #2 VW into the seventh corner to take the lead. The #4 Tiida, starting from pole position, followed the #3 car to pass the VW at the ninth corner, and on the main straight at the end of the first lap, it was the pair of Tiidas in first and second. On lap 3, the #2 VW received official notification of its jump-start, and had to serve a drive-through penalty on the following lap, falling to 12th. The #2 VW pushed to make up ground, but stopped at the second corner of lap 9 with smoke coming from the car, its race over. The Tiidas then maintained a 30 second gap to the third-placed car (#8 Citroen), continuing their laps to a comfortable finish. Six months after last year's embarrassing fall, the Tiidas came back to the finish line where the pit crew waited. The 2008 CCC opening race showed the overwhelming strength of the Nissan Tiida with the car's 1-2 finish. #3 Tiida ; Guo Haisheng "The car is perfect. I had nothing to worry about since the qualifying session on Saturday. I hope to continue winning this year to make up for last year's embarrassment." |
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| China Circuit Championship (CCC) The CCC is a touring car series in China. The Dongfeng Nissan Ghia Team has two Tiidas entered, with technical support provided by Nissan/Nismo. The Championship consists of 6 races, run at circuits in Zhuhai, Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu for this yearfs championship. Only drivers born in China can enter the 1600cc class, designed to increase the skill level of Chinese drivers. The 1600cc class also allows a wide range of modifications, which makes the technical challenge exciting, so it is becoming the main category of Chinese national touring car-based races. |
