The Mazda China supported Beijing Luisu Racing Team, entered a Mazda 3 into the production class for round 4 of the China Touring Car Championship (CTCC), which was held at the Korea International Circuit. Here driver, Chao Chen carried out a solid performance and completed a trouble-free race.

The year’s CTCC season was kicked off at China’s Guangdong International Circuit, after which rounds 2 and 3 were held at the Shanghai International Circuit and the Shanghai Tianma Circuit. For round 4, the series’ sole international round, the stage was moved to the Korea International Circuit. The Korea International Circuit is located in Yeongam, South Jeolla, South Korea, and is a technical circuit totaling 5.6km in length. This time around the Beijin Luisu Racing Team, supported by Mazda China, competed with the sole entry of the #21 Mazda 3. Carrying out a conservative drive in the qualifying session held on the 18th, it would ultimately finish 21st fastest out of 23 competitors and begin the following day’s final race from the tail end of the grid.

In the first heat of the final race, Chen started in the Mazda 3 from 21st on the grid and overtook several rivals to finish in 17th. He would go on to overtake another 3 machines in Heat 2 but unfortunately a severe accident led to a race cancellation and these results would not be officially included. This time around there was not even the faintest hint of trouble from the chassis or the engine, which goes to show that, in just it’s 4th time out since taking on the challenge of the CTCC, the machine is starting to show reliable performance. The team’s flagship model, the Mazda 6, which is competing in the Super Production Super Cup, and ace car #20 Mazda 3, that is racing in the Production Class, are currently undergoing a range of technical improvements. They will be back out to compete in CTCC round 5 to be held at the Guangdong International Circuit in Guangzhou.

Photo by Mazda China