Rain or shine, Lei Junbin/Chen Cheng of KIYA Racing Team review the highlights of 2024 CTCC Sports Cup

On May 10-12, 2024, the CTCC China Automobile Circuit Professional League ushered in the season opener at the Zhuzhou International Circuit. In this highly anticipated competition, champion driver Lei Junbin and the powerful Chen Cheng partnered up to represent the KIYA team in the fierce competition of CTCC Sports Cup Group D.

From test driving to actual combat: comprehensive improvement

During the pre-race test driving practice phase, Lei Junbin and Chen Cheng made full use of this time to improve their competitive state and continue to familiarize themselves with the characteristics of the new racing tires. They repeatedly tested different vehicle settings and strived to find the best configuration that best suited their driving style. Although this process is challenging, it is crucial to improving competition results.

As the practice session progressed, Lei Junbin and Chen Cheng gradually adapted to the track conditions and tire performance, and began to try faster speeds. In the official practice session, the No. 77 Honda Fit GK5 car they drove performed well and successfully refreshed the fastest lap record of the day in the group. This marks that they have made significant progress in the preparation process and laid a solid foundation for the upcoming competition.

The weather conditions throughout the weekend were unpredictable, sometimes clear and cloudless, sometimes pouring rain, which brought great challenges to all participating teams. Faced with such complex and changeable climatic conditions and the almost white-hot competitive atmosphere on the field, the No. 77 team, composed of experienced veteran Lei Junbin and energetic new star Chen Cheng, showed extraordinary courage and perseverance. They not only overcame the adverse effects of bad weather, but also did not back down in front of many strong opponents, and won all the way with a steady performance. In the qualifying round, Lei Junbin and Chen Cheng won the third place in the group. Although this position is still a distance away from the leader, it is just a new starting point for the two experienced drivers. They will use the next time to further adjust their strategies, strive to perform at their best in the next race, and make a push for the podium.

From mud to glory: Lei Junbin and Chen Cheng won the runner-up in the rain

Highlights of R1 Zhuzhou Station

Zhuzhou International Circuit encountered continuous heavy rain on Saturday, May 11. This sudden rainstorm made the entire track extremely slippery and visibility was greatly reduced, which brought great challenges to all participating drivers. Drivers Lei Junbin and Chen Cheng faced unprecedented difficulties. Due to the lack of data support for tire performance in rainy conditions and the best rain adjustment plan, they had to directly use the existing vehicle configuration to participate in the intense first round of the finals.

Faced with such an unfavorable situation, the two experienced veterans were not intimidated by the bad weather or disrupted their original game plans. On the contrary, during the nearly one-hour sprint in the rain, Lei Junbin and Chen Cheng relied on their solid technical skills, calm mentality and deep understanding of car control skills to successfully overcome the problem of insufficient grip caused by the slippery road surface, and were still able to accurately judge the changes in the road conditions ahead and respond quickly under extremely low visibility conditions. In the end, through unremitting efforts, the two not only successfully completed the competition tasks, but also achieved a significant improvement in ranking, and jointly won the precious honor of runner-up in Group D for the team.

On Sunday, May 12, as the track conditions returned to a dry state, the duo of Lei Junbin and Chen Cheng set out on the journey of competition again. Facing new challenges, they showed an indomitable spirit and were determined to achieve better results in the competition. Unfortunately, however, during the fierce competition, the No. 77 car unfortunately encountered a collision accident, causing serious damage to the vehicle. This unexpected situation forced the two to end the race early, and they left the field after completing only 11 laps.

Enjoy the unforgettable game and create a better future

This is an unforgettable game. For the two who won the runner-up in the group for the first time, it is undoubtedly the best reward for their hard work. This experience has made them more determined in their belief that only by continuous efforts and overcoming difficulties can they win better results in future competitions.

After the race, the two drivers concluded: "The 2024 CTCC Sports Cup has brought many new changes, including the addition of new categories, the emergence of new teams and the debut of new tires, which have injected new vitality and challenges into the entire event. These changes not only provide us with more opportunities to showcase our talents, but also allow the audience to enjoy more exciting competitions. I hope to return to CTCC to participate in the competition in the future."

Bid farewell to 2024, we look forward to the Chia team and the two drivers returning to the track with a stronger attitude, continuing to pursue their dreams and create brilliance!