Unusually cool weather and overcast skies, the qualifying runs of the 2011 Clio Cup China in Shanghai begins with unusual circumstances and finishes with even more unusual results.

With an undercurrent of excitement that comes only from experienced drivers, the “FRD Race Club” drivers both old and new, once again gather in Shanghai to burn rubber to pavement.With fierce competition all around this time, everyone was performing above expectation even though there might have been random minor issues. Such as at 11:18 into the race, Jacky Shi swerved off the track at Turn 9 and took several seconds to recover. Kenneth Lau also stalled slightly at Turn 1, 11:29 into the race but had a fast recovery and finished third! Times were down to the millisecond in difference, with Aaron Kwok finishing first with a time of 2:09.193, Steve Elmes with 2:09:365, and Kenneth Lau with 2:09:594 in the first qualifying run.

The second qualifying run finished with Frank Yu taking first with a time of 2:08.507, followed by David Louie with 2:08.755 and Aaron Kwok with 2:08:810. With the greatest number of off track stalls at Turn 14 and 16 with their sharp hairpin turns. The Drivers were tested and came through with improved times for the second qualifying run, improving over the first.

With such tight times and such experienced drivers competing against each other, the outcome for tomorrow’s race is more tense than usual. As no one knows what the result will be especially with the weather forecast calling for rain. The hated element for many a driver … though hearsay says one or two of the drivers prefer it and says it improves their chances to knock out the competition! Did someone say this was friendly rivalry? We shall see …