Wanganui champion driver Earl Bamber has left his mark on the Far East after he wrapped up the 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championship with a round still to go in Shangahi, China, at the weekend.
Completing a stunning rookie season, the 23-year-old Nexus GSH Racing driver took out his sixth victory in the 11th round of the championships, going from pole to the chequered flag, while also setting the fastest lap time of the 12-lap at Shanghai International Circuit.
The signs had been promising for Bamber when he came third in his cup debut back in April in his base of Malaysia, but the young man has made virtually every post a winner since then his 199 points on the leaders' table now 21 points clear of Team Eagle's Martin Ragginger, who finished third in Shanghai.
Second behind Bamber for the round was the 2012 champion, PICC Team StarChase's Alexandre Imperatori, the Swiss driver now based in Shanghai and having a strong weekend on home turf.
Ragginger had wanted to challenge Bamber but spent much of the race fighting to get past Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup driver Ben Barker, of Britain, finally claiming the last podium spot on the final lap.
The top three are now set in stone with a round to go as Team Jebsen's Rodolfo Avila sealed third overall by keeping his nose clean and crossing the line in sixth.
A delighted Bamber, who since 2006 has competed regularly in Asia in other classes and won his share of trophies, said this title in just his first year of Porsche racing was a dream come true.
"It's absolutely amazing. The start of the season was quite difficult, finding sponsorship and everything.
"Our goal was to be in the top three and it has been a huge team effort. It's fantastic to bring the title home with one race to spare.
"I was looking in my mirror and waiting to see Alex [Imperatori] cross the line, hoping he would be second. Martin [Ragginger] has been pushing me all year, and it's been a great battle. I'm over the moon to have won."
Imperatori said the best chance to overtake was at the start but while he was good there, Bamber was a little better.
"Into the first turn there was a bit of contact with Martin [Ragginger], and we were side-by-side for the first couple of turns.
"After that I focused on consistent laps and putting some pressure on Earl, but he made no mistakes."
Ragginger apologised for the contact with Imperatori and said he had not expected Barker to be able to pass him where he did on the track. He got the place back but knew that the title was now gone.
"I've had a fair battle with Earl all season, and it's been nice to race with him."
Among the other drivers, LKM Racing driver Keita Sawa spun and collected Team C&D's Jason Zhang Zhiqiang, the pair retiring from the race as a result. Others who were unlucky in round 11 were Bamber's teammate, Adrian Henry D'Silva, and Modena Motorsports' Wayne Shen, of Hong Kong.