– Press Release
High track temperatures wreaked havoc at round seven of the Blancpain Lamborghini Super Trofeo at Zhuhai International Circuit where Team FXPrimus Aylezo was one of its casualties on race day. The team went into the race full of confidence as they started the race with Afiq Yazid in pole position but its early lead was shattered at the halfway stint after its brakes overheated, causing Zen Low to plough straight through the gravel at turn one with no brakes. The Sarawakian recovered the car and despite the damage, brought the team across the chequered flag safely in third in the pro-am class.
The day started out with Afiq having a brilliant start from pole, taking advantage of the improved track conditions to maintain his lead into turn one. Then at turn three, Akihiro Nakaya took Afiq on the inside for the lead.
“I had a really good start but Nakaya took me at turn three. I didn’t want to have a battle with him as he was in a different class so I let him pass and maintained P2. I followed him for the next two or three laps then he spun right in front of me. It was quite a bad crash causing the Safety Car to come out and leaving us to get all bunched up again.
“After the SC went in, I just said to myself that I need to pull a gap for Zen and began to push, and that was when I set the fastest lap. As the pit-window opened, we were the last car to come in” said Afiq.
Zen Low took over from Afiq and knowing from the previous sessions that the track temperatures causes the brakes to quickly overheat, he was extra cautious and tested the brakes as he got in the car. When it seemed fine he gunned the car. On his out lap at the first turn, disaster struck. The brakes failed as Zen was powering down to take a turn, all he could do was watch as the car careened into the gravel with him a passenger.
“My race ended before it even started. Afiq and the team did an excellent job, he came in with at least a lap to the second placed person, so there was no pressure for me and the crew. All I had to do was get into the car and go.
“As I got in the car, I put my foot on the brake and felt pressure so I fired up the car and at the exit once again I tried the brakes, because I knew that this track, the brakes tend to overheat. Then as I exit the pit, the pressure felt good so I went for it.
“Shifted into second gear then third and before downshifting to second gear as I was approaching turn one, I called for the brakes but there was none. Zero! At that time I think I was running over 100km/hr. The first time I braked there was zero brakes and the pedal went all the way in. I released the pressure then tried again but again nothing. As I tried for the third time, it was already too late, I was already in the gravel. I tried to turn before I went into the gravel but the car just went straight because of the speed. I was just a passenger not a driver at that moment” said Zen, with dejection registered in his face after the race.
Zen decided to wait in the car for the rescue vehicle which pushed him back onto the track where he managed to continue the race to collect some points. By then, the team was down two laps. Despite the bad condition of the car Zen continued with the race, pushed as hard as he could and brought the car home third in class.
“We finished third in pro-am class and collected vital points for the Championship. For tomorrow, we just have to find a way to keep the brakes cool” ended Zen.
One race to go before the end of the China weekend for Team FXPrimus Aylezo. It has been a tough one so far as the team had to constantly battle with overheating issues throughout, but early in the first qualifying session, Afiq managed to set a blistering pace to claim pole for the team.
“I am happy that I managed to help the team get their first pole for the season. I am thankful to the team for their hard work and to Zen who helped me with the set-up of the car” said Afiq.
The 2014 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia will take the team to five race circuits around Asia, the season started in May at Sepang International Circuit before heading to Indonesia, to Japan and China. The series will have its finale in Malaysia and the World Final in November.
Follow Aylezo on www.aylezo.com and catch the snippets of Team FXPrimus Aylezo’s programme on the site and through its social media sites including www.facebook.com/aylezo and www.twitter.com/aylezo. The full programmes will be aired in 2015.
Team FXPrimus Aylezo is backed by FXPrimus, Prime Mantle Corporation, JH Italia, Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur, Fuchs, Ecotint, Kaiho Tech, CapitalTV, Splices TV, Ztro, Pholio, FX:1 Academy, Automotive Synergy.
The team will follow the 2014 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia season with races in Sepang, Malaysia on 11th May, in Sentul, Indonesia on 8th June, in Fuji, Japan on 31st August, in Zhuhai on 21st September, in Shanghai, China on 19th October and in Sepang on 23rd November for the World Final.
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