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This block was comprised of 10 drivers representing 3 countries: Hong Kong, Taiwan and New Zealand. The top two competitors would go on to the World Final, while the 3rd to 8th place competitors would continue to the Repechage block for a second chance.

For this race, the drivers would be competing on the "Kyoto Driving Park – Yamagiwa II" track in Gr.3 cars.

The top pick for this block was Hong Kong’s Jonathan Wong (saika159) who had shown incredible potential during the Online Series. In Season 2 of the 2018 Series, he had beaten out the best of Japan to take the Season title.

Tyre strategies were also under scrutiny as the drivers were required to use 3 different compounds over the race: Hard, Medium, and Soft. The front 6 drivers chose Medium to start with.

The starting grid for the race was determined by the players’ online rankings. Pole position was taken of course by Hong Kong’s Wong (saika159) in the Beetle Gr.3.

He immediately dove ahead on the first corner with 2nd place Simon Bishop (sidawg2) from New Zealand on a FT1 Gr.3, putting on the pressure as he followed in hot pursuit.

4th place Hong Kong starter Yat Lam Law (NegiFISH_NaF) [Vantage GT3] quickly moved up to third place.

On the 5th lap, the front 3 drivers headed into the pits, led by Wong (saika159), still dominating in 1st place. Wong (saika159) and Law (NegiFISH_NaF) both took this opportunity to switch to Hard tyres.

3rd place Bishop (sidawg2) chose a different strategy, switching to Soft tyres at this point, and used the extra grip to overtake Law(NegiFISH_NaF) and move up to 2nd place.

However, Law (NegiFISH_NaF) had saved his soft tyres for the final stint and succeeded in taking back second. At one point, Wong (saika159) had fallen to 3rd place while in the pits, but, having saved the soft tyres for the last spurt, he was able to easily regain the lost ground, returning to 1st place.

With his steady, unbreakable pace Hong Kong’s Jonathan Wong (saika159) maintained control of the race from start to finish and was first to reach the chequered flag. Wong lived up to his own reputation as a strong competitor and went through to the World Final.

Second to the finish line was Hong Kong’s Yat Lam Law (NegiFISH_NaF), making for an incredible one-two finish for Hong Kong.

While having put up an admirable fight at the top of the ranks, 2nd place starter New Zealand’s Simon Bishop (sidawg2) was ultimately unable to withstand Hong Kong’s best, finishing in a close 3rd. Bishop moved forward to the Repechage block for a second chance at glory.

Comments from the winner: Hong Kong, Jonathan Wong (saika159)

I’m very pleased to have achieved a pole-to-win finish in the first race. Of course, it’s a ticket to the World Final, but it was also a very important race to show-off the high level of Hong Kong’s competitors.

At the start of the race I felt a lot of pressure from New Zealand’s Simon. With him behind me I had to drive a very defensive line and had no choice but to drop my pace. But on lap 2, he made a mistake and a gap opened between us, so I was able to start really pushing it on the record line.

After the last pit stop I came back into race right behind the top two cars. But I had switched to Soft tyres, so I thought 'all I have to do is find a spot where they are slower and I should be able to overtake them easily'. Within the last 3 laps I was able to take back 1st place and finish with an 8 second difference.