David Cheng’s new team DC Racing joined forces with Pegasus Racing along with long time partners Total Lubricants China to debut at the top level in the World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Shanghai round in front of a home crowd. After a long battle in the front, Pegasus Racing Team Total by DC Racing finished the 6 Hours of Shanghai with a impressive 5th place finish in the lmp2 class.
In the treacherous wet and mixed conditions and equipped with michelin tires, supported by Michelin China, the team was on a rocketing start. From their P8 qualifying position, Alex Brundle took the start and quickly move up the order. near the first hour mark the Onroak built Morgan Nissan lmp2 was in the lead and building a margin. As the rain continued to fall, Brundle stayed in the car until the race half way point on the intermediate rain tires keeping the lead with nearly 30 second gap.
Just past the 3 hour mark the rain stopped. The team put Ho Pin Tung in the car and with a quick evaluation on durability, elected to keep the already triple stinted michelin tires. Tung was able to keep the lead for his first stint as the track was starting to dry. After stopping for scheduled fuel stop the track was still not dry enough to put on slicks and Tung went out for his final stint to bring the intermediates to their 5th full stint. With a drying track and worn tires Tung drove an impressive stint although relinquishing the lead.
David Cheng took the last double stint of the race and went out on the dry michelin slicks. the cold temperature was not as favorable to the prime operating window of compared to the all the other competitors on Dunlop.
“It was a big challenge for us stepping up to the WEC as a team, but we showed good pace and our potential in the challenging conditions and we lead half of the race. it was unfortunate for us that the rain stopped, we just needed it for one for hour.” said David Cheng, team owner of DC Racing. “However we put on a good show for our compatriot fans and supporters and i’ve extremely thankful for our partners Total Lubricants China, Michelin China, Baxi, and Jacky Chan. Without their support our Chinese team would not be able to compete in our home race, as well as their continued support over the last 2 years in Asian Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans campaign.
“As well, This race was a good exercise for our planned expansion into full time P2 and P3 programs for next year in ELMS, AsLMS and 24 Hours of Le Mans and eventually full time WEC, as we have shown that we can compete at the world championship level.”