2015 Audi R8 LMS Cup: Aditya Patel ends season fourth overall
Aditya Patel finished fourth overall in the Audi R8 LMS cup after the sixth and final round held in Shanghai. He went into the round standing at fifth with a possibility of winning the title. However, the first of the two races didn't go too well for Patel.
After facing engine trouble during practice, his team managed an engine swap in two hours' time. Although he managed to qualify second behind Alex Yoong, the stewards penalised him for a minor technical infringement, which sent him all the way back to 17th on the grid. However, he managed to fight his way up to ninth by the end of the race after setting the fastest lap time. The final race was smooth sailing for Patel, after he was placed on pole thanks to his fastest lap in the first race. Patel held all through the race as he built up a good lead from his rivals, winning.
"It's been a crazy year and there's no better way than to top it off with a pole to flag victory in the final race! The team did a fantastic job to get the car ready for qualifying. The penalty after qualifying meant a change in strategy, and it turned out to be perfect! I'd like to thank Audi China for giving me the opportunity to race in the cup as well as my sponsors, Audi India, JK Tyres and Jubilant Motorworks for their support through the years," said Patel after the race.
Press Release - Aditya Patel Wins Final Race in Shanghai
| Shanghai, November 1, 2015: Audi India race talent, Aditya Patel, racing in the Audi R8 LMS cup, took a lights to flag victory in spectacular fashion in Shanghai today. Round six of the Audi R8 LMS cup played host to two races and ran as a support race to the World Endurance Championship in Shanghai. Aditya went into the final race sixth in the driver's standings and still had a slim chance of clinching the title. Race one however, did not go as plan for the driver backed by Audi India, JK Tyres and Jubilant Motorworks. After having engine trouble in practice, the mechanics worked extremely hard to change the car's engine in no more than two hours. Patel then went out and qualified second, alongside Alex Yoong. However, his joy was short lived. The stewards took a decision to penalize Aditya for a minor technical infringement, thereby putting him 17th on the grid for the first race of the weekend. Patel remained undeterred and put in a stellar performance to move up to 9th place and set the fastest lap of the race which put him on pole position for race two. Being a standing start, Patel shot off and never looked back. The Indian quickly built a comfortable gap over championship rivals Alex Yoong, Franky Cheng and Marchy Lee. From there on, Patel kept his calm and crossed the chequered flag in spectacular fashion to win the final race of the season ahead of Marchy Lee and Franky Cheng. Former Formula one driver, Alex Yoong was crowned Champion of the Audi R8 LMS Cup. Aditya Patel ended the championship fourth overall. "It's been a crazy year and there's no better way than to top it off with a pole to flag victory in the final race! The team did a fantastic job to get the car ready for qualifying. The penalty after qualifying meant a change in strategy, and it turned out to be perfect! I'd like to thank Audi China for giving me the opportunity to race in the cup as well as my sponsors, Audi India, JK Tyres and Jubilant Motorworks for their support through the years," said an ecstatic Aditya after the race. | |
Starts Rs 2.55 Crore
5204cc
Automatic
610
530
7.63 Kmpl
