From September 19th to 21st, the 2025 TCR China Championship made its highly anticipated return to the Shanghai International Circuit for the intense battles of the 5th round. Teamwork Motorsport once again shone brightly at this top-tier showdown in Shanghai, as Paul POON secured double overall podiums with one victory and one runner-up finish in AM class, further solidifying his lead in AM Drivers’ Championship standings.
For the Shanghai Jiading race, Richard LI and Paul POON once again formed the competitive core of Teamwork Motorsport’s lineup, leading the team’s charge on the track. With the continuous accumulation of racing experience, Richard LI, who was promoted to the PRO Class this year, has been steadily enhancing his strength within the class. Meanwhile, Paul POON has also gained the initiative in the AM Class standings in the second half of the season.
Qualifying
Making a triumphant return to the Shanghai International Circuit, the drivers of Teamwork Motorsport delivered a standout performance in the qualifying session. Richard LI blazed to an impressive 2nd place overall, securing a front-row starting position for the Saturday Race 1. Paul POON also put on a dazzling show, clinching 5th place overall and 2nd place in AM class. Teamwork Motorsport thus got off to a strong start for the weekend.
Race 1
In the first race of the weekend, Richard LI took the lead right after a brilliant start. Later, during the intense tussle with teammates from Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport, he adopted a steady strategy, falling back slightly behind the leading pack to maintain a stable pace while engaging in thrilling attack-and-defense battles with his opponents. Paul POON, on the other hand, went head-to-head with his rivals in the AM class right from the start. He advanced steadily and worked his way into the top 3 overall.
In the end, Paul POON crossed the finish line in 3rd place overall and as the runner-up in the AM class, reaping rewards in both the overall and class competitions. Richard LI also completed the race smoothly, finishing in 4th place overall.
Race 2
For the Sunday Race 2, Paul POON started from the 6th overall. After the start, he followed the pack steadily while gradually moving up the rankings. He broke out of the encirclement amid the pressure from opponents ahead and behind, eventually climbing to 3rd place overall. With this performance, Paul POON secured another overall podium finish and achieved a goal he set since his return to TCR China in 2023 — stepping onto the overall podium alongside his professional driver teammate.
In accordance with the top 10 reverse-grid regulation, Richard LI, who had an outstanding qualifying performance, was required to start this race from the 9th position overall. After the start, he advanced steadily, and even the deployment of the safety car halfway through the race did not disrupt his attacking rhythm. In the end, he completed the race smoothly in 6th place overall.
With the Shanghai weekend in the books, Paul POON now stands on the cusp of claiming the AM Class Drivers’ Championship, boasting a commanding 74-point lead in the standings, while Teamwork Motorsport is also one step away from clinching the Clubs’ Cup titles.
As the 2025 TCR China Championship gears up for its season-ending showdown at Zhuzhou International Circuit in October, Teamwork Motorsport stands poised to turn its championship aspirations into reality. The squad is eagerly anticipating extending their winning momentum, holding the double championships high, and etching another chapter of glory in their journey.
