2026-07-28
China GT 2026 Round 3 — Zhuhai Race Report
First Victory of the Season — Race 1: Cancelled | Race 2: AM Class WinnerA Weekend Ruled by the WeatherAt 4.319 kilometers, Zhuhai International Circuit is a fast and flowing circuit that rewards confidence and commitment behind the wheel. By Saturday morning, however, none of that mattered anymore.As a typhoon made landfall along the Guangdong coastline, relentless rain swept across the circuit and refused to let up for the remainder of the weekend. From that moment on, the challenge was no longer about finding lap time—it became a test of judgment, patience, and survival.Standing water covered the racing surface. Crosswinds were strong enough to unsettle GT3 machinery mid-corner. Visibility changed from lap to lap. More than thirty GT cars shared the track, including several world-class professional drivers.It was the most demanding race weekend of our season—and ultimately one of the most rewarding.Qualifying: Fastest AM Entry, Ahead of Multiple Pro-Class CarsBefore the weather reached its worst, we made our statement on pace.Our Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II secured the fastest qualifying time in the AM class, earning ninth place overall on the starting grid. The lap was quick enough to outperform several Pro-class competitors—an achievement that reflected both the car's performance and the team's preparation.At Zhuhai, track position is notoriously difficult to recover once lost. Starting from the fifth row as the fastest AM entry provided the foundation for everything that followed.That grid position was earned on merit.Two days later, it would help deliver our first victory of the season.Race 1: Defeated by the TyphoonSaturday belonged to the weather.Race 1 began behind the Safety Car as heavy rain left multiple sections of the circuit flooded. Conditions deteriorated with every lap. As rainfall overwhelmed the track's drainage system and standing water accumulated along the racing line, Race Control made the only responsible decision: to cancel the race.Was it disappointing? Absolutely.But inside the garage, no one questioned the decision. Under conditions like those, no result was worth risking the safety of the drivers, teams, or marshals.Instead, we packed up knowing our opportunity was still alive—and returned to the hotel ready to fight another day.Race 2: Slick Tires, Torrential Rain, and a Red FlagSunday morning presented a difficult decision. The circuit was still damp from the previous day's storm, but a dry racing line was beginning to emerge. Almost the entire field committed to slick tires—and so did we.Then, as the race got underway, the rain returned.Starting from the fifth row, Jackson turned what could have been a gamble into a masterclass. Rather than simply surviving the conditions, he attacked.Lap after lap, he carved his way through the field. On slick tires, he threaded the Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II through standing water while rivals either ran wide, spun off the circuit, or surrendered positions in the worsening conditions. He maintained the lead in the AM class and continued to extend the gap even as the rain intensified.As conditions became increasingly hazardous beyond the halfway point, Race Control once again intervened. The race was suspended under a red flag, bringing all thirty-plus GT cars back into the pit lane.The interruption became an opportunity.During the stoppage, Su Yen-Ming took over driving duties while the TEAM SX83 crew made the decisive call to switch to wet-weather tires. It was a strategy based not on what had already happened, but on what was about to happen.The decision was made under immense pressure—there was no time for hesitation.Approximately thirty minutes later, the race resumed.Su Yen-Ming rejoined the circuit as the leader of the AM class, turning the remainder of the race into a demonstration of composure and control. Torrential rain, powerful crosswinds, a waterlogged circuit, and relentless pressure from faster cars behind tested every lap.He never gave up a single position.With calm execution and flawless consistency, Su managed the changing conditions to perfection, protecting the team's advantage all the way to the checkered flag. It was the kind of drive that never makes the headlines for dramatic overtakes, yet wins championships through discipline, precision, and absolute trust in the team's strategy.The checkered flag fell.AM Class Victory.TEAM SX83 had claimed its first win of the 2026 season.After a weekend defined by uncertainty, difficult decisions, and ever-changing conditions, the result was earned through speed, strategy, and flawless execution. From setting the fastest AM qualifying time to mastering one of the most challenging wet-weather races of the year, every member of the team played a part in delivering a victory that was anything but routine.It was more than a race win—it was a statement that TEAM SX83 is ready to compete at the front of the field.Looking AheadThe disappointment in Shanghai hurt.In Ningbo, we answered with a double podium.In Zhuhai, we finished the job.Victories like this are never earned by one person alone—especially not under conditions like these.This win belongs to the strategy call made during the red flag. It belongs to every mechanic who committed to the tire change, knowing the entire race depended on that single decision. And it belongs to two drivers who trusted each other completely throughout a weekend where there was no margin for error.Our sincere thanks go to Jackson, Su Yen-Ming, and every member of TEAM SX83 whose dedication made this result possible.Round 4 awaits. Shanghai. September 4–6.Our work isn't finished yet.賽季首勝 — Race 1:取消|Race 2:AM 組 P1由天氣主宰的一站珠海國際賽車場全長 4.319 公里,高速、流暢,是一條考驗車手承諾度的賽道。但到了週六早上,這些都已經不太重要 — 颱風登陸廣東沿海,整個週末都沒有離開。從那一刻起,這一站比的不再是單圈速度,而是判斷力。積水的賽道。強到足以在彎中推動 GT3 賽車的側風。時有時無的能見度。三十多台 GT 賽車同場競技,其中不乏世界級職業車手。這是我們本季最艱難的一個週末,也是最有價值的一個。排位賽:AM 組最速,快過部分 Pro 組車手在天氣完全變壞之前,我們先用成績說話。我們的 Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II 在排位賽中拿下 AM 組最速,並以全場第九的位置發車,這個單圈成績甚至快過數台 Pro 組賽車。這絕非小事。珠海一旦失去賽道位置就很難再拿回來;能從第五排、以 AM 組最快的車起跑,為後面發生的一切打下了基礎。這個發車位是靠實力掙來的。兩天後,它替我們贏下了比賽。Race 1:敗給颱風週六屬於天氣。Race 1 在賽道多處積水的情況下由安全車帶隊起跑,狀況只有越來越糟。當雨量已經遠超排水系統的負荷、賽車線上滿是積水時,賽事管理中心做出了正確的決定:比賽取消。失望嗎?當然。但維修區裡沒有人反對這個決定。在那樣的條件下,沒有任何成績值得去換。我們帶著完整的機會回到飯店。Race 2:乾胎、大雨與紅旗週日的賽道微濕但正在變乾,幾乎全場都選擇了乾胎,我們也不例外。然後,就在比賽開始的同時,雨也開始下了。Jackson 從第五排起跑,把這個賭注跑成了神來之筆。他不只是求生存,而是主動進攻:一圈一圈超越對手,用乾胎穿過積水區,而其他人不是衝出賽道,就是拱手讓出位置。他守住 AM 組領先,並在雨勢加大的同時持續擴大優勢。過了比賽中段,天氣再次逼得賽事管理中心出手,紅旗中斷比賽,三十多台 GT 賽車全數進入維修道。這段中斷,我們用對了。蘇彥明接手賽車,技師團隊換上中性胎,判斷的是接下來會發生什麼,而不是剛剛發生了什麼。壓力之下做出的正確決定,沒有時間猶豫。約三十分鐘後,比賽重新開始。蘇彥明以 AM 組領先者的身分回到賽道,並把剩下的比賽變成一場控制力的展示:大雨、強勁側風、濕透的賽道,以及後方虎視眈眈的快車。他一個位置也沒有讓出。方格旗。AM 組 P1。TEAM SX83 拿下 2026 賽季首勝。感謝與展望上海的遺憾很痛。寧波用雙料頒獎台回應。珠海,我們把它完成了。在這種條件下贏得比賽,從來不屬於某一個人。它屬於紅旗時做出的那個策略決定,屬於明知整場比賽都押在這上面、依然把胎換好的每一位技師,也屬於兩位在零容錯的週末裡完全信任彼此的車手。謝謝 Jackson、謝謝蘇彥明,也謝謝每一位車隊成員。第四站,上海,9 月 4–6 日。我們還沒結束。
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