Team StarChase driver Christian Menzel became the first-ever back-to-back Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion, winning the 2010 championship in what was arguably the most competitive season to-date. With a record field of 23 of some of the world’s best sportscar drivers, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia blasted off the grid in 2010 with a brand new wider, stronger and faster Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and once again raced on some of Asia’s most prestigious race circuits.

With drivers across Asia, Europe, New Zealand and the Americas taking part in the crack 2010 season, the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia celebrated the start of its eighth season in support of the FIA Formula One World Championship at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. The series then moved to Beijing’s Goldenport Circuit for the second annual Fascination Porsche weekend, before joining the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival in the Southern Chinese city of Zhuhai.

The series then travelled to Singapore in support of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix – the Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia - Singapore 2010. A second race weekend in Shanghai set up the season finale in Zhuhai, for the first-time ever supporting the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

Reigning champion Menzel returned to the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia both to defend his title as well as to make motorsport history. Meanwhile, two-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Darryl O’Young returned for a partial season as allowed by his FIA World Touring Car Championship schedule. Former Porsche Carrera Cup Australia champion Craig Baird of New Zealand joined the Asian championship for the first time and quickly became a force to contend with, while Hong Kong’s Marchy Lee returned after missing the 2009 season. Young Macau talent Rodolfo Avila with Team Jebsen returned after a stunning debut, while Japan’s Keita Sawa contested selected rounds and Philip Ma with Jacob & Co Racing moved up to the professional Class A category.

The bumper Class B entry list boasted several top drivers, igniting a ferocious fight for the non-professional class title.

Menzel quickly established himself as the man to beat, winning the first four races in both Shanghai in Beijing. In Class B, Team PCS Singapore’s Mok Weng Sun established a similar win-streak, ultimately winning 10 straight Class B races and making series history when, in Zhuhai, he became the first Class B driver to stand atop an overall podium.

Heading to the Lion City, Menzel remained at the top of the leaderboard, ahead of Baird, Mok, Lee, Sawa and Avila. However, Rounds 7 and 8 held on the Marina Bay street circuit proved to be a turning point in the season.

Despite dramatically changing track conditions, Baird took the first Asian victory of his career on the Marina Bay street circuit, with Menzel finishing 13th after gambling on wet tyres, Baird was just two points adrift of the overall championship lead.

Baird’s jubilation was compounded further when he took his second straight win in Round 8, this time wresting the championship lead from Menzel in the process.

The fight was on for the championship title and in Shanghai, Menzel set pole position to cut his points deficit to just three points from Baird. While the following rain-soaked Round 9 would start behind the Safety Car, Menzel maintained his advantage and took the win and followed it up with a faultless lights-to-flag run in Round 10. For his part, Mok locked up the Class B championship having won 10 straight races.

With Baird having to bow out of the final two races of the 2010 season, the championship battle came down to two drivers: Menzel and Lee.

Menzel arrived in a wet Zhuhai and immediately proved why he is a champion by taking pole position for the race which could decide the 2010 title. Menzel finished second in the drama-filled race, but it was enough to clinch his second successive Porsche Carrera Cup Asia crown. Lee’s third place finish saw him take the runner-up position after a year of highs and lows, while the race itself was won by the talented Allan Simonsen of Denmark, making his series debut. In Class B, Francis Tjia took a superb debut series victory.

In the final race of the 2010 season, pole-sitter Simonsen lost the lead to newly-crowned champion Menzel off the lead. The German went on to take his first ever victory at the Zhuhai track, with Avila second and Sawa third.

Tjia recorded his second victory in as many races to finish third in the 2010 Class B standings, with Chong, who finished the race third behind Jeffrey Lee, taking the runner up spot in the championship.

For the two champions – Menzel and Mok – winning in such a competitive year had been a hugely rewarding experience, and a career highlight. Meanwhile, the rest of the field were already planning their 2011 strategies!

Drivers´ Standings Overall
Christian MENZEL	157 points
Craig BAIRD	148 points
Marchy LEE	134 points

Drivers´ Standings B
MOK Weng Sun	204 points
Ringo CHONG	140 points
Jean Marc MERLIN	127 points