The TCR Malaysia title is within Engstler’s reach
Luca Engstler has already staked a serious claim on the inaugural TCR Malaysia title after two third of the season. The young German and his Liqui Moly Team Engstler Hyundai i30 N scored full points in the second event at Sepang International Circuit.
After setting pole position, Engstler won both races and built a margin of 41.5 points over his teammate Kai Jordan, with 55 still on offer in the third and final event that will take place at Sepang again on February 23/24.
Race 1 started on a drying track, but the rain began to fall and the safety car was deployed on lap 5; eventually the red flag was waved for good at the end of lap 7.
Engstler took the lead at the start, while Michael John Soong’s Hyundai stalled and was pushed back to the pits. Jordan overtook Ip for second during the first lap, with Martin Ryba moving up from eighth on the grid to fourth with a brilliant start. Young Malaysian rookie Brendan Paul Anthony recovered to fifth after starting from the last spot of the grid because he missed the Qualifying.
The rain came during lap 4 and some drivers (Douglas Khoo, Ahmed Noor Azlee and Michael Choi) pitted for wet tyres while the safety car was prompted into action, but as the weather got worse, the race was red-flagged and awarded only half points.
The track was still wet when Race 2 got underway, Ryba and Khoo started well from the front row, but during the first lap Engstler and Jordan moved up to first and second after starting from eighth and sixth respectively. Anthony recovered from 10th on the grid to fourth and on lap 2 overtook Ryba for third.
While Engstler built a huge margin that eventually topped the 30 seconds over Jordan, Anthony finished a brilliant third and Khoo stole fourth from Ryba on lap 5.
Race 1
1. Luca Engstler (Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Hyundai i30 N), 7 laps
2. Kai Jordan (Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 6.429
3. Paul Ip (KCMG, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 13.121
4. Martin Ryba (Brutal Fish Racing, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 46.110
Race 2
1. Luca Engstler (Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Hyundai i30 N), 11 laps
2. Kai Jordan (Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 31.433
3. Brendan Paul Anthony (Liqui Moly Team Engstler, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 39.483
4. Douglas Khoo (Viper Niza Racing, CUPRA), 47.810
Championship points
1. Engstler 96.5; 2. Jordan 55; 3. Ryba 35; 4. Huff 33; 5. Khoo 32
