The Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup Asia 2021 wrapped up on October 16, 2021 with an action-packed day that saw 21 racers from 7 local teams compete to be Asia’s champion and just two spots at the highly anticipated TGR GT Cup 2021, plus over US$19,000 in prize money.
The tournament was won by Thailand’s Nathayos, with Taiwan’s Y.T. Chou finishing in second place.
The team championship was also won by Thailand.
Here are the top five highlights from the competition.
5. Team Thailand puts on a show in Semi Final A
In Semi Final A, Thailand’s Nathayos Sirigaya and Thanaphat Pungphat worked together all race in a tremendous show of national pride to guarantee a podium 1-2 finish.
But with both Thai competitors comfortably in the lead going into the final stretch, they competed against each other as they gunned for first place in a classic run to the finish line!
4. Y.T. Chou and Wasin race for the photo finish
In Semi Final B, it came down to Taiwan’s Y.T. Chou and Thailand’s Wasin who were neck and neck all race leading up to the final corner.
An absolute classic saw both men push hard all the way to the end, but it was ultimately Y.T. Chou who came out on top.
3. It’s now or never in the Consolation race with a Finals spot on the line
The close racing wasn’t just at the front of the races. A battle for fourth and fifth place in the Consolation Race was one of the best scraps all day with Korea’s Nam JungGil and Park JunHyeong, and Malaysia’s Nabil Azlan all fighting for the last two spots in the Final.
The trio battled throughout the race, and could not be separated going into the final lap, as things started heating up at the very first corner.
2. This finish could not be closer
The ending of the Consolation race saw the three racers battle all the way up to the final corner before a run to the flag.
Nabil, unfortunately, missed out, but not through lack of trying, and all three drivers put on a tremendous show.
1. A titanic four-way battle for second place
In Round 1 of the Final race, Malaysia’s Taj Aiman opted for an interesting alternate tyre strategy that saw him pit early, and then use the clear track to put down some lightning fast lap times.
But as others exited the pits after their mandatory stops late in the race, Aiman found himself in the middle of a titanic four-way battle heading into the final corner.
Here’s what happened next:
In Round 2 of the Final race, Taiwan’s Y.T. Chou led from the start after blitzing qualifying to take pole position.
Y.T. Chou cruised to a comfortable victory, with Aleef coming in second, and Nathayos taking third, which was good enough to clinch the tournament.
