Macau owned Asia Racing Racing had a mixed feelings weekend at yesterday's AFR Series Round 1 and2 at the Zhuhai International Circuit. Championship contender Chi Cong Li battled a mysteriousproblem that appeared to be electronic related to finish 2nd on Race 2. Teammate Thomas Chowmanaged to complete his first ever race.

The nightmare started with Asia Racing Team enduring a terrible Qualifying session. Chi Cong Li set thepace during the two official Free Practice sessions but was to be betrayed in Qualifying by his engine,fading out of power. 55 years old Chow hadn’t better luck and was forced to park his car before the enddue to a driveshaft failure. Chi Cong Li managed to qualify 3rd and Chow was 9th and last.Replacing the Renault 2.0 liter unit on the car number 3 didn’t solve the fading power problem. Limitedby his engine, Chi Cong Li quickly moved to second and he would stay there until the checkered flag. Inthe end of the race, the Chinese prodigy was penalized in 30 seconds for alleged jump-start, movinghim back to 6th.

The Race 2 was far more straightforward. Chi Cong Li climbed three positions at the start. One laplater; he overtook the car in front. Knowing that the leader was going to be penalized for jump-start,Chi Cong Li tried to keep his position. Fighting with uncooperative car, the Guangzhou man wasn’t ableto put valuable yards between himself and his chasers, and was demoted by an opponent with four lapsto go, finishing 2nd. Despite all of the problems, Chi Cong Li conquered the Asian Drivers Trophy firstposition.

Sadly Chow didn’t take part of Race 1 after spinning on the warm up lap. Still inexperienced as a racedriver, Chow calmly approached each corner of the Race 2 to finish 8th.The next AFR Series race on the schedule is on May 28 and 29, once again at the Zhuhai InternationalCircuit.

#3 Chi Cong Li (CHN)Qualifying: 3rdRace 1: 6thRace 2: 2nd“We struggled with lack of power all weekend. They say I slightly moved on Race 1 start and I respectthe stewards’ decision. I did a very good start in Race 2 but my car was losing power lap after lap. Ihold the black car (Juan Arenas) for a couple of laps but it was impossible to keep him behind forever.At the end of the day I know that my team did their best in every way possible to make sure that theproblem was solved. I guess we’ve got to have had some bad luck at some point and unfortunately itwas today.”

#20 Thomas Chow (HK)Qualifying: 9thRace 1: DNSRace 2: 8th

“It was my first race weekend and it was all new to me. I was disappointed initially because of whathappened in Race 1. Definitely I have to exercise my left foot braking. I managed to stay in the track inRace 2. I was not pushing, just avoiding doing any mistake. I know I have a lot to learn but hopefully Ican build from here.”