NISSAN Tiida Opens 2010 Season with 2nd-place Podium Finish
China Touring Car Championship Opening Round Race Report
April 11th, Shanghai Tienma Circuit
The season-opening round of the China Touring Car Championship (CTCC) was held at the Tienma Circuit in the city of Shanghai. From the DongFeng NISSAN Ghia Sports Team three NISSAN Tiidas were entered into the 1600cc class, one of which finished in second place.
Gaining increased popularity over the past several seasons, the CTCC series has grown to become China's main racing series, and this season has expanded from six to eight races. Additionally, tyres have become a single make, and a new manufacturer's championship has begun. With this new dawn, the DongFeng Nissan Ghia Sports Team will be approaching the series as a three-car organization.
Nineteen cars lined up on the grid in chilly rain, ready for the opening race. Shanghai's Tienma Circuit is a slow-speed, technical track with few places to pass, so competition is fierce at the start, leading to mix-ups right away. In this race, contact was made between two cars at the first corner of the first lap. The #2 Tiida was involved (with Lin Lifeng driving), sustaining damage to its suspension, and was retired. Meanwhile the #3 Tiida, in its first race, came into contact with another car on the fifth lap, running off track and into retirement.
Driving the #1 Tiida, Guo Haisheng started the race after qualifying in 7th place. From an eighth place position on the fifth lap, he advanced to fifth place after making contact with another car. Subsequently, the Safety Car (SC) came out on track on lap nine, from where the race ran behind the SC for four laps. After the re-start, Guo nudged past the car ahead of him to push into fourth. Then, slipping past one more car on the 18th lap, Guo got to third place, and proceeded to hunt down the two VWs Polos ahead of him, but could not outpace them. He got to the checkered flag on the 22nd lap in third place. Later, after the winning car received a penalty, Guo's #1 Tiida was moved up 2nd place.
China Touring Car Championship (CTCC)
The CTCC is a series of touring car races held in China in which the Nissan Tiida competes. The DongFeng Nissan Ghia Sports Team receives technical support from NISSAN/NISMO. In 2006 and 2008, the DongFeng Nissan Ghia Sports Team took the series' title. This season's championship has races scheduled for Shanghai Tienma, Shanghai F1, Beijing, Zhuhai, Canton, Chengdu, and Inner Mongolia, plus one additional new circuit, for a total of eight races.
NISSAN MOTORSPORTS
Page Top
