The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of Craft Racing AMR stormed to victory in race two of the GT Asia series held in Motegi, Japan yesterday (12 May).  Hong Kong’s Frank Yu shared driving duties with Aston Martin Racing works driver Stefan Mücke (D) and the pairing proved to be one of the strongest throughout the race weekend.

In qualifying, the conditions varied; it began to rain midway through the first session and gradually got worse as qualifying progressed. Mücke took advantage early on in Q1 and laid down the fastest lap of the session to take pole position for race one by a margin of 1.1 seconds over the Porsche of Li Zhi Cong. 

In Q2, they opted for Yu to go out on the same tyres as Mücke’s previous run.  Despite the wet conditions, Yu still put in a strong lap in a close qualifying session to finish in fifth out of a 17-car field.

In race one, Mücke quickly took advantage of his pole position start and pulled a comfortable lead to the rest of the field. The pit stop window opened after 25 minutes and Craft Racing AMR made a driver change for Yu to get into the car. Despite re-entering the field in the lead, Yu soon began to struggle with his tyres. Holding his nerves well under immense pressure and after some strong defending, Yu came just short of the podium finishing fourth overall. *

Craft Racing AMR was determined to fight back the next day as the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 had proven to be the quickest car in the field on a dry track. In race two, under blue skies and sunny conditions, Yu started the race in fifth and drove a strong stint to move the car up as high as third before the mandatory pit stops. Taking over the V12-powered machine, Mücke was on a mission to win the race overtaking one McLaren and two Porsches on his charge up through the field and into the lead. It was a dramatic finish to the race, which saw Craft Racing AMR take its first victory of the 2013 season in the opening round of the GT Asia series.

Mark Goddard, team principle of Craft Racing AMR commented: "We are very happy that the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has won a race in the first GT Asia event for the car. The combination of Frank Yu and Stefan Mücke will definitely give the team a great chance of championship honours this season."

Hong Kong driver Frank Yu added: “It was a great result for us in a weekend that saw tricky and changing conditions, but the team did an excellent job to react and adapt so we always felt prepared. I have to thank my team mate for driving well and also for Aston Martin Racing for their continued support, this victory is for Aston Martin Racing.”

The GT Asia championship now enjoys a one-month break before the action resumes in Okayama, Japan on 29/30 June.

* The results of race one currently remain provisional as the winning Porsche of Li Zhi Cong was disqualified from the race for a pit stop infringement, but the decision is currently under appeal, which could see the winning car disqualified from the race.

For further media information contact:

Craft Racing AMR, based in Hong Kong is the exclusive official factory backed Aston Martin team in Asia.  For further information please contact:

Group PR Manager, Won Paik at won@craftracing.com.

Press officer, motorsport, Rebecca Jones at rebecca.jones@astonmartin.com

Notes to editors:

Aston Martin Racing is the motorsport arm of Aston Martin. In 2013, it will contest the FIA World Endurance Championship with its Vantage GTE. It also has customer teams competing in major championships around the world in its Vantage GT4, GT3 and GTE cars, which all share a bonded aluminium chassis and fundamental engine design with Aston Martin's road-going V8 Vantage.

Follow the team's progress at www.facebook.com/astonmartinracing on Twitter using @amr_official and on the website www.astonmartin.com/racing

James Walters
Aston Martin Racing
T: +44 (0) 1295 273355
E: jwalters@astonmartinracing.com

About Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin Racing is the motorsport arm of Aston Martin. In 2013, it will contest the FIA World Endurance Championship with its Vantage GTE. It also has customer teams competing in major championships around the world in its Vantage GTE, GT3 and GT4 cars, which all share a bonded aluminium chassis and fundamental engine design with Aston Martin's road-going V8 Vantage.

Follow the team's progress at www.facebook.com/astonmartinracing on Twitter using @amr_official and on the website www.astonmartin.com/racing.