Asia Racing Team
Encyclopedia
Asia Racing Team is a Chinese
/ Macanese
motor racing team that was formed in 2003. It is headquartered in Zhuhai International Circuit
.
Throughout its history the team primarily competed in Formula Renault
, moving after to Formula BMW Pacific, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia & GT3 Asia.
The team is also known in the region for their racing school.
Asia Racing Team in 2011 embarked in another Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season with a line up of 3 drivers. Also the team will run two Porsche GT3 Cup-R in GT Asia Challenge.
The overall operation of the company is managed by motor racing multi-titlist Frenchman, Philippe Descombes. He, who is fluent in Mandarin, was the man to help the launch single seaters careers of several successful Asian drivers, including Cheng Congfu, Rodolfo Ávila
, Alexandre Imperatori
, Jazeman Jaafar
, or Rio Haryanto
.
Sérgio Fonseca (PR & Marketing Manager)
Joined ART in December 2007 as PR & Marketing Manager. Prior to ART, Sérgio worked for more than ten years in motorsports event organization, driver’s management and media in Portugal and Macau. The Portuguese is the Public and Media relations of the team and customer support manager.
Yannick Mazier (Chief Mechanic)
Frenchman Yannick Mazier is with ART since the first day and leads a 12-man mechanics in the workshop based at Zhuhai International Circuit.
Rodolfo Ávila
(Driver Coach)
Former British F3 and International Formula Master racing driver Rodolfo Avila train and coach novice and licensed drivers of all ages. 2003 Asian Formual Renault Champion and 2008 Asian Supercar Challenge Champion. Avila currently races in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.
and in Macau
with assets amounting to more than RMB 10 million. Its main operational headquarters is located within the Zhuhai International Circuit complex, in southern China.
Team Highlights:
2003: A group of successful Macau entrepreneurs creates ART to compete in Asian Formula Renault Challenge – the first race of the team was the 50th Macau Grand Prix.
2004: First full season of racing in Asian Formula Renault, finishing 2nd (Rodolfo Ávila
).
2005: ART wins Asian Formula Renault Macau Grand Prix (Hiroyuki Matsumura).
2006: ART conquers Asian Formula Renault’s Teams title for the first time and finishes 2nd (Alexandre Imperatori
).
2007: ART finished 2nd (Alexandre Imperatori
) again in Asian Formula Renault Challenge.
2008: The team was 2nd (Mathias Beche) in Formula Asia 2.0 and wins Asian Drivers Trophy (Rio Haryanto
). ART returns to Macau Grand Prix, making the first appearance in Formula BMW Pacific.
2009: The team entered a new era, giving the first steps into GT racing, participating in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia with two overall victories and best rookie (Rodolfo Ávila
). ART took AFR Championship Teams title and drivers’ classification first runner up (Luis Sa Silva). Contested the Formula BMW Pacific Macau Grand Prix and Singapore Grand Prix rounds.
2010: Asia Racing Team clinched the AFR Series’ team championship while Sandy Stuvik clinched the Driver points championship, followed by his teammate Tin Sritrai, and the “Asian Drivers Category”.
In 2011 Asia Racing Team turned their heads from AFR Series to the newly established single seater championship in the region - the "Formula Pilota China Series" - with an impressive four car line up: China’s Chi Cong Li and Naomi Zhang Ran will race alongside with Angola’s Luis Sá Silva and Thailand’s Tin Sritrai.
Formula Renault Team Drivers=
D.C - Driver Classification,
T.C - Team Classification,
† - Only one race (Macau Grand Prix)
Formula BMW Team Drivers=
† - Only one race (Macau Grand Prix)
†† - Only one race (Singapore Grand Prix)
Porsche Carerra Cup=
The team, which has participated in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2009 winning two races, has been keeping an eye on Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2010. Following discussions with various drivers, the team has decided to re-enter in the most prestigious series of Southeast Asia as a technical service provider for car owners. Bringing with them a strong racing background as well as a surplus of enthusiasm and excitement, Holland's Marcel Tjia and Hong Kong's Dr Chi Min Ma joined up with Macanese driver Keith Vong to round out the three-car effort.
GT Asia=
Asia Racing Team also expanded to GT series in Asia. The Macau born and Zhuhai based team is running two Porsche 997 GT3 Cup R in the GT3 class of the GT Asia Series for the Hong Kong racers Eddie Yau and Sasha Chu.
External links =
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
/ Macanese
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
motor racing team that was formed in 2003. It is headquartered in Zhuhai International Circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit is located at Jin Ding town in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.Motorsport started in Zhuhai when it hosted a race on its street circuit in 1993, racing continued until 1996 when the motor racing circuit was constructed and became China’s...
.
Throughout its history the team primarily competed in Formula Renault
Formula Renault
Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or...
, moving after to Formula BMW Pacific, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia & GT3 Asia.
The team is also known in the region for their racing school.
Asia Racing Team in 2011 embarked in another Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season with a line up of 3 drivers. Also the team will run two Porsche GT3 Cup-R in GT Asia Challenge.
Team Management
Philippe Descombes (Team Manager)The overall operation of the company is managed by motor racing multi-titlist Frenchman, Philippe Descombes. He, who is fluent in Mandarin, was the man to help the launch single seaters careers of several successful Asian drivers, including Cheng Congfu, Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila is a Macanese racing driver. He is currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for Team Jebsen.-Career:*2002 - Champion - Intercontinental A Macau Karting...
, Alexandre Imperatori
Alexandre Imperatori
Alexandre Imperatori is a Swiss racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Renault and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. He has been a reserve driver for A1 Team Switzerland in the A1 Grand Prix series.-External links:* *...
, Jazeman Jaafar
Jazeman Jaafar
Jazeman Firhan Jaafar is a Malaysian racing driver.-Karting:After beginning in karting aged six, Jaafar has won a total eleven kart race victories in both his home country Malaysia and in Belgium.-Formula Renault:...
, or Rio Haryanto
Rio Haryanto
Rio Haryanto is an Indonesian racing driver. He currently competes for Virgin Racing-assisted Manor Racing in GP3 Series....
.
Sérgio Fonseca (PR & Marketing Manager)
Joined ART in December 2007 as PR & Marketing Manager. Prior to ART, Sérgio worked for more than ten years in motorsports event organization, driver’s management and media in Portugal and Macau. The Portuguese is the Public and Media relations of the team and customer support manager.
Yannick Mazier (Chief Mechanic)
Frenchman Yannick Mazier is with ART since the first day and leads a 12-man mechanics in the workshop based at Zhuhai International Circuit.
Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila is a Macanese racing driver. He is currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for Team Jebsen.-Career:*2002 - Champion - Intercontinental A Macau Karting...
(Driver Coach)
Former British F3 and International Formula Master racing driver Rodolfo Avila train and coach novice and licensed drivers of all ages. 2003 Asian Formual Renault Champion and 2008 Asian Supercar Challenge Champion. Avila currently races in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.
History
The Asia Racing Team, Ltd. (ART Motorsports) is a company registered in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and in Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
with assets amounting to more than RMB 10 million. Its main operational headquarters is located within the Zhuhai International Circuit complex, in southern China.
Team Highlights:
2003: A group of successful Macau entrepreneurs creates ART to compete in Asian Formula Renault Challenge – the first race of the team was the 50th Macau Grand Prix.
2004: First full season of racing in Asian Formula Renault, finishing 2nd (Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila is a Macanese racing driver. He is currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for Team Jebsen.-Career:*2002 - Champion - Intercontinental A Macau Karting...
).
2005: ART wins Asian Formula Renault Macau Grand Prix (Hiroyuki Matsumura).
2006: ART conquers Asian Formula Renault’s Teams title for the first time and finishes 2nd (Alexandre Imperatori
Alexandre Imperatori
Alexandre Imperatori is a Swiss racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Renault and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. He has been a reserve driver for A1 Team Switzerland in the A1 Grand Prix series.-External links:* *...
).
2007: ART finished 2nd (Alexandre Imperatori
Alexandre Imperatori
Alexandre Imperatori is a Swiss racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Renault and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. He has been a reserve driver for A1 Team Switzerland in the A1 Grand Prix series.-External links:* *...
) again in Asian Formula Renault Challenge.
2008: The team was 2nd (Mathias Beche) in Formula Asia 2.0 and wins Asian Drivers Trophy (Rio Haryanto
Rio Haryanto
Rio Haryanto is an Indonesian racing driver. He currently competes for Virgin Racing-assisted Manor Racing in GP3 Series....
). ART returns to Macau Grand Prix, making the first appearance in Formula BMW Pacific.
2009: The team entered a new era, giving the first steps into GT racing, participating in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia with two overall victories and best rookie (Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila
Rodolfo Ávila is a Macanese racing driver. He is currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for Team Jebsen.-Career:*2002 - Champion - Intercontinental A Macau Karting...
). ART took AFR Championship Teams title and drivers’ classification first runner up (Luis Sa Silva). Contested the Formula BMW Pacific Macau Grand Prix and Singapore Grand Prix rounds.
2010: Asia Racing Team clinched the AFR Series’ team championship while Sandy Stuvik clinched the Driver points championship, followed by his teammate Tin Sritrai, and the “Asian Drivers Category”.
Racing School
The ART Motorsports Racing School is the only formal driver training course recognized by both the Hong Kong Automobile Association (HKAA) and the Associação Geral Automóvel Macau-China (AAMC). The organization of a monthly course continues to be popular among the young and elder alike from students to corporate decision-makers.Formula Pilota China=In 2011 Asia Racing Team turned their heads from AFR Series to the newly established single seater championship in the region - the "Formula Pilota China Series" - with an impressive four car line up: China’s Chi Cong Li and Naomi Zhang Ran will race alongside with Angola’s Luis Sá Silva and Thailand’s Tin Sritrai.
Team Drivers
| ART Formula Pilota China | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Drivers | D.C. | T.C. |
| 2011 |  Chi Cong Li |
||
 Luis Sa Silva |
|||
 Tin Sritrai |
|||
| Naomi Zhang |
Formula Renault Team Drivers=
| ART Formula Renault Drivers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Drivers | D.C. | T.C. |
| 2003 |  Kazuki NakajimaKazuki Nakajima is a Formula One driver from Japan who drove for the Williams-Toyota team from to . Prior to that he had been their test driver, as well as a competitor in the GP2 Series for the DAMS team.... † |
D.N.F | |
| Kamui Kobayashi Kamui Kobayashi is a Japanese racing driver. He has competed in the GP2 Series, won the GP2 Asia Series, and made his Formula One debut with Toyota in the final two races of when he replaced Timo Glock after the German was injured in a crash during qualifying for the... † |
D.N.F | ||
| Motohiko Isozaki† |
11th | ||
| 2004 |  Rodolfo ÁvilaRodolfo Ávila Rodolfo Ávila is a Macanese racing driver. He is currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for Team Jebsen.-Career:*2002 - Champion - Intercontinental A Macau Karting... |
2nd | 2nd |
 Henry Lee JuniorHenry Lee Junior Henry Lee Man-Kee Junior is a Hong Kong celebrity and a racing driver.-Early life:Lee is the son of Henry Lee Hok-Ping who was a motorcycle racer and worked for Sime Darby. Lee Jr. majored in Business Administration and graduated from University of Southern California. He was an auto racing fan... |
6th | ||
| Kenneth Lau |
30th | ||
| Michael Choi |
16th | ||
| 2005 | Michael Ting |
8th | 3rd |
| Zhang Jin |
9th | ||
| 2006 | Alexandre Imperatori Alexandre Imperatori Alexandre Imperatori is a Swiss racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Renault and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. He has been a reserve driver for A1 Team Switzerland in the A1 Grand Prix series.-External links:* *... |
2nd | 1st |
 Jazeman JaafarJazeman Jaafar Jazeman Firhan Jaafar is a Malaysian racing driver.-Karting:After beginning in karting aged six, Jaafar has won a total eleven kart race victories in both his home country Malaysia and in Belgium.-Formula Renault:... |
3rd | ||
 Henri KarjalainenHenri Karjalainen Henri Mikael Karjalainen is a Finnish racing driver. He will race in GT Finnish Championship in the year 2010. Henri's manager is Finnish Sport Management Agency SportElite.-Formula BMW:... |
4th | ||
| Zhang Jin |
15th | ||
| 2007 | Alexandre Imperatori Alexandre Imperatori Alexandre Imperatori is a Swiss racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula Renault and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. He has been a reserve driver for A1 Team Switzerland in the A1 Grand Prix series.-External links:* *... |
2nd | 1st |
 Benjamin Rouget |
13th | ||
| Mathias Beche | 5th | ||
| Zhang Zhen Dong |
17th | ||
| Sujino Hajime |
18th | ||
| 2008 | Mathias Beche | 2nd | 2nd |
| Yoshitaka Kuroda |
5th | ||
 Rio HaryantoRio Haryanto Rio Haryanto is an Indonesian racing driver. He currently competes for Virgin Racing-assisted Manor Racing in GP3 Series.... |
3rd | ||
 Ryan Booth |
7th | ||
| 2009 | Rio Haryanto Rio Haryanto Rio Haryanto is an Indonesian racing driver. He currently competes for Virgin Racing-assisted Manor Racing in GP3 Series.... |
11th | 1st |
| Benjamin Rouget |
4th | ||
| Luca Ferigutti |
7th | ||
| Luis Sá Silva |
2nd | ||
 Suriya Bala Kerisnan ThevarSuriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar is a Singaporean racing driver. He is currently racing in the Asian Formula Renault Challenge 2010 for Asia Racing Team .-Career:... |
20th | ||
| 2010 | Sandy Stuvik |
1st | 1st |
| Tin Sritrai |
2nd | ||
| Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar is a Singaporean racing driver. He is currently racing in the Asian Formula Renault Challenge 2010 for Asia Racing Team .-Career:... |
6th | ||
| Zhang Ran |
11th | ||
| Chi Cong Li |
5th |
D.C - Driver Classification,
T.C - Team Classification,
† - Only one race (Macau Grand Prix)
Formula BMW Team Drivers=
| ART Formula BMW Drivers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Drivers | D.C. | T.C. |
| 2008 |  Alon DayAlon Day Alon Day is an Israeli racing driver. He won the 2009 Asian Formula Renault Challenge. He will participate in the German Formula Three Championship in 2010, racing with the Performance Racing team.... † |
D.N.F | |
| Yuji Kunimoto Yuji Kunimoto is a Japanese auto racing driver. He is the younger brother of 2008 Macau Grand Prix winner Keisuke Kunimoto. As of 2011, he is racing for Cerumo in Formula Nippon and for apr in Super GT.-Career highlights:... † |
5th | ||
| 2009 | Alon Day Alon Day Alon Day is an Israeli racing driver. He won the 2009 Asian Formula Renault Challenge. He will participate in the German Formula Three Championship in 2010, racing with the Performance Racing team.... † |
D.N.F | |
| Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar is a Singaporean racing driver. He is currently racing in the Asian Formula Renault Challenge 2010 for Asia Racing Team .-Career:... †,†† |
7th | ||
| 2010 | Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar is a Singaporean racing driver. He is currently racing in the Asian Formula Renault Challenge 2010 for Asia Racing Team .-Career:... |
18th | 9th |
| Paul Lau†† |
19th |
† - Only one race (Macau Grand Prix)
†† - Only one race (Singapore Grand Prix)
Porsche Carerra Cup=
The team, which has participated in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2009 winning two races, has been keeping an eye on Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2010. Following discussions with various drivers, the team has decided to re-enter in the most prestigious series of Southeast Asia as a technical service provider for car owners. Bringing with them a strong racing background as well as a surplus of enthusiasm and excitement, Holland's Marcel Tjia and Hong Kong's Dr Chi Min Ma joined up with Macanese driver Keith Vong to round out the three-car effort.
Team Drivers
| ART Porsche Carerra Cup Drivers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Drivers | D.C. | T.C. |
| 2009 | Rodolfo Ávila Rodolfo Ávila Rodolfo Ávila is a Macanese racing driver. He is currently racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia for Team Jebsen.-Career:*2002 - Champion - Intercontinental A Macau Karting... |
4th | 4th |
| 2011 | Dr.Ma Chi Min |
||
| Keith Wong |
|||
 Marcel Tjia |
|||
Asia Racing Team also expanded to GT series in Asia. The Macau born and Zhuhai based team is running two Porsche 997 GT3 Cup R in the GT3 class of the GT Asia Series for the Hong Kong racers Eddie Yau and Sasha Chu.
Team Drivers
| ART GT Asia Drivers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Drivers | D.C. | T.C. |
| 2011 | Eddie Yau |
||
| Sasha Chu |
|||
External links =