Earl Bamber made a sizzling debut in the blistering heat at Sepang International Circuit recently by finishing third at the first leg of 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA). The race, a support race for the 2013 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix was definitely the hottest race in the calendar as track temperatures soared to over 40 degrees Celsius.
Driving for Nexus Racing, the Malaysian based Kiwi stunned many by qualifying on the front row in second. Qualifying was held in difficult conditions with a heavy shower just one hour before the session; leaving the track damp in many places.
Bamber said, “We knew we had a very strong car and that the track would be dry at the end of the session. However, we didn’t get the best from our first set of tyres due to rain before qualifying began. But I knew we would get close to pole position.”
Bamber who missed pole position by only 0.3 second was extremely happy to qualify on the front row. He added, “It has been a huge team effort to even make it on to the grid and the result was absolutely fantastic. I can’t thank Nexus Racing and everyone behind us enough and this is a great way to repay their support with a front row start for the race.”
At the start of the race Bamber got a strong jump off the starting line and had his nose in front going into turn one but it was not enough to get around pole sitter Martin Ragginger. Bamber then had a heated battle with Alexandre Imperatori the reigning PCCA champion who managed to overtake Bamber at turn five.
“We had good pace at the start of the race and when I was behind Alex, I waited to see if there would be any opportunity for me to pass him but it never did arise. But I am still extremely happy to finish on the podium in my first ever race in the PCCA and I can’t wait to build on this result at the next round.”
Bamber now stands in third of the championship with 16 points. Five points behind race winner Ragginger and three points off second placed Imperatori.
The next edition of the 2013 PCCA championship will be held as a support event to the 2013 Formula 1 UBS Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on the 12 – 14h April. The PCCA Championship calendar includes races in Zuhai, Ordos, Korea and Singapore before the season finale in Shanghai in October.
