Motorsport: Consistent racing puts Tang in front

Martin Rump won the New Zealand Motor Cup. Photo / Geoff Ridder

Singaporean misses out on wins but grabs top spot through steady performance

Singaporean driver Andrew Tang was grinning from ear to ear as he left the Hampton Downs racetrack last night as the points leader in the Toyota Racing Series. Tang grabbed another fistful of points at the fourth round of the series to knock Jann Mardenborough off the top perch.

Tang, who contested the championship last year, has been Mr Consistent over the 12 races so far and is justifiably sitting at the top.

"It's a great feeling to be leading the championship but there are still three races to go," he said.

Tang missed out on standing on the top spot at the weekend with the race wins going to Mardenborough, Steijn Schothorst and Martin Rump. Estonian Rump won the feature race for the New Zealand Motor Cup to emulate his mentor and fellow Estonian Sten Pentus, who won the same trophy two years ago. He headed home Tang and Egor Orudzhev.

"It was very good to get the win in the feature race," said Rump. "Especially after my race on Saturday when I went off the track and went some laps down and finished at the back of the field."

Schothorst made up for a nightmare third round at Highlands Motorsport Park the previous weekend where he was unable to bank any points by wining the Sunday morning race from Kiwi Damon Leitch and Orudzhev.

Winner of race one, Mardenborough, had a fraught start and was swept up by the pack, ending back in 11th but clawed his way back to 10th at the finish. Tang started off third spot and initially dropped back, then closed up on Orudzhev and harried him all the way to the flag.

Mardenborough started the next race from pole and despite two safety car episodes, the Brit controlled the restarts and comfortably won from Tang and Orudzhev.

The TRS championship heads to Manfeild next weekend for the New Zealand Grand Prix.