Team Porsche New Zealand’s Marco Giltrap has delivered a strong podium result during Rounds 3 and 4 of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia at Zhuhai International Circuit, navigating a dramatic and incident-filled weekend to remain firmly in championship contention.
Entering the event third in the overall standings on 21.5 points, Giltrap faced a tightly contested field, with Marcus Amand and Ling Kang narrowly ahead on 30 and 31 points respectively. The 4.318km, 14-turn Zhuhai circuit set the stage for an action-packed double-header.
Giltrap showed strong pace in qualifying, securing third on the grid with a best lap of 1:35.715s, just 0.340s shy of pole position set by Naquib Azlan.
Race 1 began with immediate drama, as front-row starters Azlan and Amand made contact off the line. Both drivers continued, but Azlan ran wide at Turn 1, opening the door for Giltrap to capitalise and move into second position.
Further back, a multi-car incident brought out the safety car before the race was red-flagged to allow for vehicle recovery. Following the restart with 12 laps remaining, Giltrap maintained second place behind Amand.
A tense moment unfolded on Lap 5 when Azlan attempted an inside move on Giltrap at Turn 2, resulting in contact. Azlan spun after dipping a wheel onto the grass, while Giltrap skillfully avoided the incident under heavy braking. Azlan recovered but dropped to fourth.
At the front, Amand controlled the race to take victory, while Giltrap secured an impressive second-place finish, crossing the line 3.9 seconds behind. Rodrigo Dias Almeida completed the podium in third.
Race 2 proved more challenging for the Kiwi driver. Starting fourth, Giltrap was involved in a first-lap incident at Turn 1 after missing his braking point and making contact with Amand. The resulting chain reaction saw both Amand and Azlan spin, with several other drivers forced to take evasive action amid the chaos.
A further incident at Turn 4 brought out the safety car, while Giltrap, carrying significant damage from the earlier contact, was forced to pit before ultimately retiring from the race.
With multiple frontrunners impacted, Alexander Tauscher—substituting for Marvin Klein—capitalised to take victory for Absolute Racing. Almeida continued his strong form with second place, while Amand recovered to finish third.
Despite the Race 2 setback, Giltrap’s Race 1 podium ensures he remains in the championship fight. He now sits fourth overall on 42.5 points. Amand leads the standings on 75 points, followed by Almeida on 60.5, with Kang third on 45.
The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season continues with Rounds 5 and 6 at Fuji International Speedway in Japan from 8–10 May.
Header Image: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
