CUP CHAMPION
Team Reckless driver Kota Sasaki (Japan) took the 2008 Aston Martin Asia Cup title in style this weekend with a double win in the final rounds held at the Zhuhai International Circuit, China.
The Aston Martin Asia Cup joined forces with the Asian GT3 race to provide spectators with a bumper grid at the Southern China circuit. As well as the regular Championship contenders three guest drivers from Japan joined AMAC for the final races including the series' first female driver, Keiko Ihara.
Sasaki took two poles, two fastest laps and two race wins to dominantly seal his crown, but despite his clean sweep there was plenty of drama in both races which were hard and fairly fought. Fellow title contender Dilantha Malagamuwa (Sri Lanka) took 2nd in both races. Both Malagamuwa and Sasaki had to battle past an inspired Tunku Hammam (Malaysia) in Race Two as he used an incident between two of the GT3 cars to his advantage to nip into the AMAC lead. Hammam eventually took two 3rd place finishes for his best result of the season.
With his outstanding season record of seven wins in the ten round season, Kota Sasaki has made motorsport history as the first ever Champion of a one-make Aston Martin series. In taking the AMAC title Sasaki is rewarded with a fully-sponsored season in a Vantage N24 in the 2009 FIA GT4 Championship.
Dilantha Malagamuwa took two wins this season on his way to 2nd in the Championship with Singapore's Mel Choo taking a single win at Sepang on his way to 3rd overall.
America's Nasrat Muzzayin was awarded the AMAC Rookie of the Year award.
The series which raced over ten rounds, including prestigious support slots to the Formula One Singapore and Chinese Grand Prixs, has been wonderfully supported by Michelin, Dura, Powerbuilt and Racing Logistics International to which the AMAC organisers and team extend their thanks. In the world's first ever one-make Aston Martin series it has been a season of great excitement and highlighted a successful marriage between the iconic British marque and the increasingly dynamic motorsports scene in Asia.
Series director Ian Geekie summed the season up "The first season of the Aston Martin Asia Cup has been a great success and demonstrated an enviable series of competitive racing. Kota's achievement has been exceptional in a well rounded and eager field in which we have also welcomed a number of superb guest drivers. The hard work of the team and the support of our partners, the drivers and the spectators has been greatly encouraging and we look forward to an even bigger and better season in 2009!".
