Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing will return to defend its drivers’ and teams’ titles in the TCR Asia series in 2022 with a refreshed driver line-up – with David ZHU joining Sunny WONG and reigning champion ZHANG Zhi Qiang in the team’s three Lynk & Co 03 TCRs.
It will mark the third consecutive year that the team has worked with the successful Lynk & Co brand and Geely Group Motorsport in the Asia region – where it’s won titles in TCR China, TCR Asia, and secured two consecutive victories at the iconic Macau Guia Race, which once again will host the TCR Asia series season finale.
ZHANG Zhi Qiang will defend his drivers’ title from 2021, joined again by Sunny WONG for a second consecutive year, while David ZHU will take over from MA Qing Hua, who has gone to Europe to race in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup with Lynk & Co Cyan Performance.
ZHU is a proven race winner, and won the 2017 China Touring Car Championship drivers’ championship in the leading Super Cup division, and was the runner-up in last year’s China Endurance Championship.
ZHU joins ZHANG, who has won the Guia Race of Macau for the past two years and the TCR Asia drivers’ championship last year. Alongside him will be 2018 TCR China drivers’ champion and Macau Touring Car Cup winner Sunny WONG.
ZHANG Zhi Qiang said:
“2021 was a fantastic year for me, to take my second Macau win, and also win my first drivers’ championship title with Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing. It’s also great to have strong team-mates, with David ZHU joining the team – which means we have speed and experience in the team which will help us get the maximum performance possible from our Lynk & Co 03s.”
Sunny WONG said:
“I’m really looking forward to the season. It’s been a long winter, but that’s helped us spend a little more time getting ready to defend our titles in the TCR Asia series, and we couldn’t be better prepared. The Lynk & Co 03 TCR is the best touring car I’ve ever driven, and I can’t wait to get racing again.”
David ZHU said:
“It’s a great opportunity to be back racing touring cars, and to be racing with a team like Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing. MA Qing Hua is going to be a tough driver to replace, but I’m relishing the challenge of joining the team and fighting for victories along with an experienced and super-fast pair of team-mates in ZHANG Zhi Qiang and Sunny WONG.”
Ken LYU, Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing team manager, said:
“We can’t wait to be back racing again this year, and it’s fantastic to be continuing to work with Shell, Lynk & Co, and Geely Group Motorsport. We had a strong first year, and then we followed that up last year with a sensational season, winning the teams’ and drivers’ titles in TCR Asia, as well as securing a 1-2 in Macau.
“We’re delighted to have ZHANG Zhi Qiang back to defend his title, and we also have a very capable pair of hands with Sunny WONG – and now we welcome another championship contender in David ZHU, meaning we have an all-past touring cars champions line-up with which to fight for the 2022 TCR Asia series title.”
Chen JUN, Director of motorsport at Geely Holding Group, said:
“In the past two years, Geely Group Motorsport has been working hard in customer racing and has achieved encouraging results. As the representative of Geely Group Motorsport customer racing, Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing has proven to the world the capabilities of a Chinese brand and Chinese team by winning the 2020 TCR China drivers’ championship and the 2021 TCR Asia triple crown – teams’, drivers’ and car-models’ titles. Its achievements have also allowed the return of Chinese driver MA Qing Hua to FIA WTCR, whom has been doing well in the world arena with Lynk & Co Cyan Performance.”
“A new chapter is now ahead of us, we are excited see the new line-up and wish Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing the best of luck in the new season.”
Allan CHEN, Shell China Lubricants OEM marketing director, said:
“As a partner of Geely for 15 years, Shell has always firmly supported the development of motorsport. We’re also privileged to power the progress of Lynk & Co “China Speed”. In the coming season, we wish for Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing have a successful year, and a have
more championship success.”
The team continues its commercial partnership with Shell and Lynk & Co China, competing as Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Racing with a refreshed livery on its championship-winning 03 TCRs.
