TAYLOR COCKERTON SCORES SECOND ON LMP3 DEBUT

September 15 2018

Taylor Cockerton has finished second with co-driver Kevin O’hara on his China Endurance Series debut for KCMG at Zhuhai International Circuit.

 

Cockerton’s teammate made a strong start to move from sixth off the line to third by the exit of turn one. Meanwhile, countryman Andrew Waite had to hold station in fifth in the PTRS Racing car.

 

Waite dropped another spot to sixth on lap two after S&D Motorsport pilot Tim Zimmermann cleared the Kiwi.

 

Craft Bamboo driver James Winslow led early on and held a little under a second of margin over second placed racer Nigel Moore in the second of the PTRS cars.

 

The race settled into a rhythm with little in the way of action.

 

O’hara fell back of the leading two drives and He Xiaole caught the back of the KCMG driver.

 

The mid-race pit stops saw O’hara pit and put Cockerton in the car. The Pukekohe teenager came back out in third and immediately put pressure on the second placed car of Neale Muston, who took the reins of the other Craft Bamboo Racing driven by Nathan Kumar.

 

With 17 minutes to go Cockerton dived to the inside of Muston and moved into second.

 

While Cockerton was passing on Craft Bamboo Racing car, the other led the race. Jake Parsons and James Winslow led by some 10 seconds after the pit stops.

 

Waite’s teammate Ye Hongli sat down the order in sixth.

 

After moving into second position, Cockerton was 10 seconds back of the lead. He began to narrow the margin as the clock ticked down, but ultimately there wasn’t enough time and Parsons took another win with Winslow.

 

Cockerton crossed the line second for KCMG alongside Kevin O’hara while Yan Cheuk Wai and He Xiaole came home third for FS Sports.