MALAGAMUWA TIGHTENS HIS GRIP AT THE TOP OF THE TABLE

Sri Lanka’s Dilantha Malagamuwa Takes Another Double Victory in Sepang in the Fifth and Sixth Rounds of the Aston Martin Asia Cup.

The Aston Martin Asia Cup (AMAC) returned to the glorious Sepang circuit, Malaysia for rounds five and six. Insupport of the Japan Super GT Series, AMAC put on an exciting display in challenging weather conditions.

Qualifying took place in searing heat with the track temperature reaching 60°C! Sri Lanka’s Dilantha Malagamuwa(Dilango Racing) took pole position by just 0.191s from Australia’s Mark Williamson. Third on the grid wasWilliamson’s Concord Motorsports Pte Ltd team-mate and fellow Australian, Simon Waters. Sadly, local driverTunku Hammam was plagued by with intermittent gear selection problems and would start from the back of thegrid.

The first race of the weekend took place on Saturday and despite a heavy downpour in the morning, whichwashed the track clean, the hot sun dried the track completely by the time the AMAC grid formed.Malagamuwa made good use of his pole position to stay ahead of Williamson into turn one and the two foughthard over the 10 lap distance with Malagamuwa just managing to hold on for the win with an ecstatic SimonWaters coming in third for his first ever podium finish and completing a 2-3 finish for the Concord Motorsports PteLtd team.

Behind the top three there was a train of cars fighting for position with Greg Teo and TJ Chin putting in strongdrives for fourth and fifth. Lee K Kwan was going well until he was forced to pit with brake problems. TunkuHammam had made a superb start and was up to fifth in the first lap but after contact with TJ Chin was forced toretire on lap 4 and so would again start race 2 from the back of the grid.

Sunday morning and before race two all eyes were on the skies . A heavy thunderstorm flooded the track in themorning but just as the track had dried out and the cars were assembled in the paddock the rain came backcausing a rush for the hard working mechanics to change the cars to wet tyres.

Once again Malagamuwa got the drop on Williamson to lead into turn one. Somehow everyone got through safelydespite the lack of visibility and set off in pursuit of the leader. Tunku Hammam had again produced a superb startand would eventually finish a fine third to the delight of the home crowd after Waters spun exiting turn ten. Therewere several spins and offs in the treacherous conditions as the track dried and the wet tyres overheated butthankfully no major incidents. Once again it was an entertaining race for participants and spectators alike.

Aston Martin Asia Cup, Sepang, 19-21 June 2009 Results

Round 5 ResultsPos No. Driver Country Team Laps1 6 Dilantha Malagamuwa Sri Lanka Dilango Racing 102 33 Mark Williamson Australia Concord Motorsports Pte Ltd 103 23 Simon Waters Australia Concord Motorsports Pte Ltd 104 63 TJ Chin Malaysia 105 3 Greg Teo Singapore 106 44 Ian Ross England 107 11 JP Chin Malaysia 108 28 Eric Cheung Hong Kong IMSS Racing 109 16 Naoki Furuya Japan 1010 55 Pye Tan Malaysia 1011 83 Lee K Kwan Malaysia 1012 36 George Ong Singapore 513 52 Tunku Hammam Malaysia 4Fastest Lap: Dilantha Malagamuwa, 2.22.355

Round 6 Results

Pos No. Driver Country Team Laps1 6 Dilantha Malagamuwa Sri Lanka Dilango Racing 102 33 Mark Williamson Australia Concord Motorsports Pte Ltd 103 52 Tunku Hammam Malaysia 104 63 TJ Chin Malaysia 105 3 Greg Teo Singapore 106 44 Ian Ross England 107 83 Lee K Kwan Malaysia 108 28 Eric Cheung Hong Kong IMSS Racing 109 23 Simon Waters Australia Concord Motorsports Pte Ltd 1010 55 Pye Tan Malaysia 1011 11 JP Chin Malaysia 1012 36 George Ong Singapore 1013 16 Naoki Furuya Japan 4Fastest Lap: Mark Williamson, 2.35.905