DRIVER UPDATE : PCCA : Darryl O’Young

The 2011 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) season will resume this weekend at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, marking the race's first visit to the historic track. Currently fifth in the Yokohama Drivers' Trophy, Darryl O'Young has scored a victory and six further podiums so far. A repeat of last season's will help him relaunch his title bid, as the 2011 season enter its final six races.

"This weekend in Suzuka is a very important weekend for the championship, I had a tough weekend last time out in Spain, so I need to turn things around here to get the championship back on track," said O'Young who won a race and finished second in another last season in Japan.

With 79 points on hand, O'Young is just three shy of German driver Franz Engstler in making top three, the Hong Kong number one driver is confident he can replicate his podium-topping performance from last year to make the season-ending races in Shanghai and Macau more interesting.

The Race of Japan marks the 19th and 20th round of the current WTCC season, with the Country of the Rising Sun being a regular stage for the competition since 2008, however it is the first time that the race will take place at Suzuka. One thing to note though, the WTCC will not run on the full 5.8-km Grand Prix track, but on the 2.2-km East Circuit, for two 23-lap races.

"I'm not exactly sure what to expect here in Suzuka since it’s my first time at the track. We are running the short East Course so it’s going to be a short lap and a very close lap time in qualifying between all the drivers. This means that a perfect lap in qualifying will be necessary to secure a good start position and race result."

Suzuka circuit is home to the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix, the prestigious motorsports event was held here since 1987, except for two seasons in 2007 and 2008. Sebastian Vettel was crowned the 2011 F1 World Champion at Suzuka earlier this month.

Sponsors LKM and A-Ha Coffee are the major forces behind Darryl’s pursuit of success in the 2011 FIM World Touring Car Championship, with additional team support coming from Chevrolet.

Prepared by www.darryloyoung.com

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