The past two weeks has seen unrelentingly hot weather in Shanghai, with temperatures constantly reaching close to 40°C, and temperatures in the Shanghai Audi International Circuit in the Jiading district of Shanghai even reaching as high as 60°C. However, in preparation for the Shanghai leg of the China GT Championship on 30th and 31st July, JRM, consisting of the JRM Primavita Team, the JRM Jiarui-Tengda Team and the JRM Elite Team, have fearlessly braved the elements and arrived here two weeks early for training.
JRM are regarded as a giant in the field of China GT, both in terms of their cars and their drivers. In this race, they will be welcoming Ho-Pin Tung, the first ever Chinese F1 driver, to join the team. This time, Ho-Pin Tung will be partnered with Zhu Junhan, and will join the JRM Jiarui-Tengda Team at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS Ultra. This will also be the first time that JRM will take on the GT3 class, whilst also sending a Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo into the GT3 tussle.
Regarding the continued absence of main drivers Zhang Dasheng and Li Chao due to the new Porsche 911 GT3 R remaining untested, team manager Li Dayuan revealed that “the new car will be tested on 3rd and 4th August at the Shanghai International Circuit with a full complement of foreign technicians and test drivers on hand. We’re hoping that JRM will really take off in the GT3 class races in the second half of the year.”
Li Dayuan also added: “Apart from upgrading the oil in all the cars to Pakelo motor oil, this race will see no major changes being made to the cars. The team’s current model of car, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, is not superior in terms of power, especially on the long 1.2 kilometer straight of the Shanghai International Circuit. The objective of this race for us is to allow the drivers and the team to have an opportunity to practice finishing the race whilst contending against the blistering Shanghai heat. We also believe that JRM, with its many years of racing experience, can calmly respond to the trials of the weather and guarantee that Ho-Pin Tung and other world-class drivers can complete the race safely.”
