F3 Asian Championship set for 2019 title-decider in Shanghai

The battle for the 2019 F3 Asian Championship goes down to the wire this week at the 5.451km Shanghai International Circuit between Hitech GP duo of Ukyo Sasahara and Red Bull Junior driver Jack Doohan.

Races 13 – 15 will be held on September 27 and 28, ahead of China’s National Day holiday on October 1.

Whoever takes the coveted prize will also bank 18 Super Licenses points, with the top nine finishers each earning points on a scale from 18 to 1, raising the stakes considerably in the final three races of the season.

Japanese ace Sasahara arrives in Shanghai with 38-point advantage over Doohan after the 16-year-old Australian endured a frustrating debut on the tricky FIA Grade I circuit just two weeks ago. Despite grappling to find the sweet spot which has so far earned him four victories and six podiums in twelve races, Doohan nevertheless fought hard to ensure he remains in championship contention.

Newly-crowned Porsche Carrera Cup Japan Sasahara, meanwhile, has proved masterful all season, collecting eight victories and only absent from the podium on one occasion.

While all eyes may be on the two Hitech GP drivers, their team already two-time F3 Asian team champions, their rivals will be keen for a final opportunity to showcase their talent and earn all-important Super License points. Any one of their rivals has the potential to crash the title fight party, and all will certainly be pushing hard to do so.

Top of that list are the third Hitech GP entry Jackson Walls, who took an impressive podium finish at Suzuka in June, and Shanghai native Daniel Cao. The Chinese Absolute Racing driver is overdue for a race win having earned six podiums so far this season to put him third in the championship – with the potential to earn 12 Super License points.

BlackArts Racing’s Brendon Leitch has also made his mark this season. The 23-year-old Lamborghini Squadra Corse Young Driver’s no-holds-barred racing style and his epic comebacks have become an exciting feature of the championship this year.

Cao’s team mate Eshan Pieris of Sri Lanka has shown impressive consistency, finishing all 12 races in the points. Quick in qualifying in Shanghai, there is no doubt Pieris has the potential to convert his pace into a podium finish.

Pinnacle Motorsport arrives for the finale with Irish driver Jordan Dempsey, contesting his fourth round of the season, and 17-year-old youngster Tommy Smith, completing just his second season of motorsport competition.

Zen Motorsport enters China’s Yu Kuai, while M-Sport Asia returns to the series with talented young Indian driver Akash Gowda having missed the previous round in Shanghai.

In the Masters category, Shanghai provides three opportunities for Paul Wong of the 852 Challengers to go head-to-head with class rival BlackArts Racing’s Thomas Luedi for the final time this season.

The two, 15-minute qualifying sessions for Races 13 and 15 of the F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA get underway on Friday, September 27th at 11:20 local time (GMT+8). Race 13 follows at 15:05 the same day. Race 14, where the grid is set by the fastest laps of each driver in Race 13, and Race 15 begin at 10:15 and 14:45 respectively on Saturday

Provisional Entry List – Round 5 (Races 13-15)