Ma Qing Hua claimed an emphatic home victory in the second race at the Zhuzhou International Circuit on 20 October, when the Chinese driver managed an incredible last-lap pass on the Hyundai of Néstor Girolami, depriving the Argentine of his second victory of the season, while it would be Ma’s second.
Girolami started from pole from the reversed grid, while Ma started from third, but he leaped to second ahead of Marco Butti’s Honda at the start and began the chase for the victory. Unlike in Brazil, where Ma harried Michelisz throughout, Ma bided his time in this race, holding on to the rear of Girolami’s Elantra, but didn’t mount his attack until the final lap.
With pressure building as the Honda of Esteban Guerrieri was also closing down on the pair in the slippery conditions, Ma made a dive after the key passing opportunity of T3, and actually made his move down the inside of Girolami into T4. Girolami closed the door, and they made light contact, with Ma running wide, but he was able to rejoin at the apex of the next corner and muscled his way back into the lead at the following hairpin.
Ma kept his nose ahead and went on to win ahead of a downbeat Girolami, despite the Argentine star trying everything he could to get back ahead of him. It was a thrilling home win for Ma, his first victory on home soil in the top tier of touring car competition after ten years of competition at the top.
Re-live the race on the official TCR TV YouTube channel here.
Picture: WSC/Jun Qian Motorsport
