On October 5, 2026, the Chinese star lineup of Cheng Congfu and Yu Kuai from the FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team secured a remarkable overall podium finish in the second round of the Beijing Street Race. With only one race left in the season, they climbed to third place in the AWS-presented GT World Challenge Asia Cup GT3 Driver Standings. This pairing crossed the line in second place overall in the second round, finishing third overall, further consolidating their lead in the Silver class standings and clinching the 2026 China Cup season championship two rounds early.

“For the Audi Sport (Asia) Customer Racing Department, both the Audi team and the clients experienced an emotional Beijing home weekend,” said Alexander Blackie, Head of Audi Sport (Asia) Customer Racing. “Despite encountering some setbacks, when we left Beijing, Cheng Congfu and Yu Kuai had been crowned China Cup champions, and still hold hope of competing for the overall championship title before the upcoming Shanghai season finale.”

The Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team's Pro-Am pairing, Andrés Pato and Jaxon Evans, suffered a heartbreaking blow in the second round when they were steering towards the overall top four and the Pro-Am podium, only to be hit by an opponent's improper maneuver, spinning out of control before the Indonesian driver crashed into the wall. In the first round prior, both second-generation Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II cars experienced frustrating incidents: the Pro-Am pairing ultimately hit the wall, while Yu Kuai and Cheng Congfu received a drive-through penalty while finishing second overall.

Round 1

Cheng Congfu missed pole position in a competitive qualifying session by less than four-tenths of a second. The FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team driver immediately launched a fierce pursuit of the leader once the field entered the newly paved track.

Talented Indonesian AM class driver Andrés Pato encountered trouble early in the race. The Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team driver was bumped by an opponent on the start and lost three positions after launching from 11th. Although Pato quickly adjusted to regain one position, moments later he was caught off guard by a slowing car ahead and ultimately crashed into the wall, ending his race in disappointment.

The incident triggered a full course yellow, and race control immediately began recovery of Pato's car with 45 minutes remaining. Just seconds after the track was cleared and the green flag waved, a second full course yellow followed almost immediately, with race control extending the yellow flag status through the entire pit stop window.

Cheng Congfu passed the second-generation Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II car to teammate Yu Kuai in second place overall. The 25-year-old driver quickly settled in upon taking the wheel, strongly entering the championship contention. The race resumed under green flag with 20 minutes remaining, and Yu Kuai and Cheng Congfu had the opportunity to score significant overall and Silver class points. However, to everyone's regret, the team was penalized with a drive-through for violating speed limits during the full course yellow period. Yu Kuai consequently dropped to 13th place, missing the points-paying positions.

During the remaining time, Yu Kuai recovered two positions, getting close to the points-paying area, but ultimately failed to do so due to time expiring, crossing the line in 11th place overall, just missing the Silver class podium.

Round 2

In Round 2, Audi cars occupied the fourth row of the grid. Jaxon Evans and Yu Kuai adopted aggressive start strategies as they drove onto the 4.894-kilometer street circuit one last time in the car line for the weekend. Both drivers improved their positions; Yu Kuai took the lead in the Silver class, while Evans rose to fifth overall, after which race control deployed the safety car shortly after the start.

The race resumed with 45 minutes remaining. Evans briefly lost the fifth overall position but quickly regained it, then continued his attack on the overall podium.

Before the pit stop window opened, the New Zealand driver had climbed to fourth overall, battling continuous attacks from behind while keeping his eyes on the target ahead. Meanwhile, although Yu Kuai lost some positions, he still maintained the Silver class lead when handing the car over to Cheng Congfu.

Evans stayed on track, pushing the second-generation Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II car to its limits, skillfully handling the tricky corners and undulations of this street circuit, and ultimately handed the car over to AM teammate Andrés Pato in fourth place overall.

As the second stint began, race control upgraded the full course yellow to a safety car procedure to allow staff to clear a stranded car and repair the wall.

At the end of the safety car procedure, Cheng Congfu had climbed to seventh overall. The race resumed under green flag with 14 minutes remaining; he launched quickly, continuing his aggressive attack in the car line with great speed.

With ten minutes remaining in the race, Cheng Congfu had climbed to third overall. His attack showed no sign of waning as he relentlessly chased the two leading cars ahead. With six minutes remaining, he surged to second place and immediately began chasing the overall leader.

Meanwhile, Pato was defending masterfully, keeping opponents behind him while consistently posting stable and strong lap times, holding fourth overall and steadily approaching the Pro-Am podium. However, moments later disaster struck—an opponent collided with him during an ill-advised overtaking attempt, causing the Indonesian driver to lose control and hit the wall.

Pato managed to drive the car away from the wall and continued the race, but his position inevitably dropped significantly, ultimately crossing the line in 12th place overall. Even more regrettable, the team was penalized for violating regulations under yellow flag conditions, falling to 15th place.

Ahead, Cheng Congfu crossed the line in second place overall, securing an exciting overall podium and Silver class victory, while clinching the 2026 China Cup season championship for himself and his teammate Yu Kuai from the FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team. Despite receiving a 5-second time penalty post-race for speeding in the pit lane, their final ranking dropped to third. However, with the season reaching its climax, Cheng Congfu and Yu Kuai remain firmly in the hunt for the season championship.

AWS-presented GT World Challenge Asia Cup

Round 5 Results

Round 1

11. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team

NC. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team

Round 2

3. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team

15. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/Audi Sport Asia Phantom Team

5 Oktober 2026, Beijing - Pasukan FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom dari China, kumpulan pembalap bintang Cheng Congfu dan Yu Kuai merebut podium keseluruhan yang menakjubkan dalam pusingan kedua lumba jalan raya Beijing, apabila tinggal satu pusingan lagi dalam musim ini, mereka menanjak ke tempat ketiga dalam jadual pemacu tahunan AWS menampilkan Cabaran Dunia GT Piala Asia GT3. Kedua-dua pemacu ini melewat di posisi kedua keseluruhan dalam pusingan kedua dan akhirnya menduduki tempat ketiga, mengukuhkan keunggulan mereka dalam jadual kelas Silver, serta mengunci kejuaraan tahunan Piala China musim 2026 dua pusingan lebih awal.

"Bagi bahagian lumba pelanggan Audi Sport (Asia), pasukan Audi dan klien telah melalui hujung minggu tuan rumah Beijing yang penuh naik turun." Pengurus Bahagian Lumba Pelanggan Audi Sport (Asia), Alexander Blackie menyatakan, "Walaupun mengalami beberapa kekecewaan, tetapi apabila kita meninggalkan Beijing, Cheng Congfu dan Yu Kuai telah dinobatkan sebagai juara tahunan Piala China, dan sebelum lumba penutup musim di Shanghai yang akan datang, masih mempunyai harapan untuk berebut kejuaraan tahunan keseluruhan."

Pasukan Audi Sport Asia Phantom pasangan kelas Pro-Am Andrés Pato dan Jaxon Evans menghadapi kejatuhan yang menyedihkan dalam pusingan kedua, apabila mereka sedang menuju ke posisi 10 besar keseluruhan dan podium kelas Pro-Am, tetapi dilanggar oleh lawan kerana operasi yang tidak sewajarnya, menyebabkan kenderaan hilang kawalan dan berputar, pembalap Indonesia itu kemudian melanggar dinding pelindung. Sementara itu, dalam pusingan pertama sebelum ini, dua kereta Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II generasi kedua mengalami pengalaman yang mengecewakan: pasukan kelas Pro-Am akhirnya terdampar di dinding pelindung, Yu Kuai dan Cheng Congfu dihukum melalui lorong pit pada posisi kedua keseluruhan.

Pusingan Pertama

Cheng Congfu hampir ketinggalan posisi pole dalam sesi kelayakan yang sengit, perbezaannya kurang daripada 0.04 saat. Pembalap pasukan FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom ini segera melancarkan pengejaran ganas terhadap pemacu pimpinan selepas memasuki trek berturap baru.

Pembalap kelas AM Indonesia yang berbakat Andrés Pato mengalami masalah pada awal perlumbaan. Pembalap pasukan Audi Sport Asia Phantom ini dibaling pada permulaan lumba, selepas berlepas dari posisi ke-11, kehilangan tiga kedudukan. Walaupun Pato segera menyesuaikan diri untuk mendapatkan semula satu posisi, tetapi beberapa saat kemudian dia tidak bersedia kerana kenderaan di hadapannya melambat, akhirnya kenderaan melanggar dinding pelindung, pertandingan berakhir dengan penuh penyesalan.

Kecelakaan menyebabkan bendera kuning seluruh trek, pihak penganjur segera melakukan penyelamatan kenderaan Pato, pada ketika itu tinggal 45 minit lagi. Hanya beberapa saat selepas trek dikembalikan ke bendera hijau, bendera kuning keseluruhan yang kedua hampir bertubi-tubi, pusat kawalan penganjur melanjutkan keadaan bendera kuning keseluruhan ke seluruh jendela pit masuk.

Cheng Congfu menyerahkan kenderaan Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II generasi kedua kepada rakannya Yu Kuai pada posisi kedua keseluruhan, pembalap berusia 25 tahun ini segera masuk ke dalam keadaan setelah menerima tongkat estafet, dengan kuat masuk ke dalam kalangan perebutan kejuaraan. Perlumbaan memulakan bendera hijau pada baki 20 minit, Yu Kuai dan Cheng Congfu sepatutnya berpeluang meraih mata penuh keseluruhan dan kelas Silver. Namun yang memalukan adalah, pasukan didenda melalui hukuman lorong pit kerana melanggar had kelajuan sepanjang bendera kuning keseluruhan, Yu Kuai jatuh ke posisi ke-13, terlepas dari zon mata.

Dalam masa yang tinggal, Yu Kuai mengejar semula dua kedudukan, sekali-sekala menghampiri zon mata, tetapi akhirnya gagal kerana masa habis, dengan posisi ke-11 keseluruhan, hampir meraih podium kelas Silver.

Pusingan Kedua

Sampai ke pusingan kedua, kereta Audi menempati barisan keempat, Jaxon Evans dan Yu Kuai mengambil strategi permulaan agresif semasa menaiki trek jalan raya Beijing sepanjang 4.894 km untuk kali terakhir dalam kenderaan minggu ini. Kedudukan kedua-duanya bertambah baik, Yu Kuai meraih kedudukan terkawal kelas Silver, Evans mendaki ke posisi kelima keseluruhan, kemudian penganjur mengeluarkan kenderaan keselamatan tidak lama selepas bermula.

Perlumbaan diteruskan pada baki 45 minit, Evans walaupun sementara kehilangan posisi kelima keseluruhan, dia segera merebutnya semula, kemudian meneruskan serangan ke podium keseluruhan.

Sebelum jendela pit masuk dibuka, pembalap New Zealand ini telah naik ke posisi keempat keseluruhan, satu sisi menentang serangan berterusan dari lawan di belakang, satu sisi mengawasi sasaran di hadapan. Semasa itu, walaupun Yu Kuai kehilangan posisi, dia masih boleh mempertahankan kedudukan terkawal kelas Silver ketika menyerahkan kenderaan kepada Cheng Congfu.

Evans terus berada di trek, mendorong kenderaan Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II generasi kedua ke hadnya, menangani belokan dan undul trek jalan raya yang sukar dengan cekap, akhirnya menyerahkan kenderaan kepada rakan kelas AM Andrés Pato pada posisi keempat keseluruhan.

Dengan permulaan sesi memandu kedua, penganjur meningkatkan bendera kuning keseluruhan kepada prosedur kenderaan keselamatan, bagi membolehkan kakitangan mengosongkan kenderaan yang terhenti di trek dan membaiki dinding pelindung.

Pada akhir prosedur kenderaan keselamatan, Cheng Congfu telah naik ke posisi ketujuh keseluruhan. Perlumbaan kembali ke bendera hijau pada baki 14 minit, dia segera menyerang, meneruskan serangan dengan pantas dalam kumpulan kenderaan.

Apabila tinggal 10 minit lagi, Cheng Congfu telah naik ke posisi ketiga keseluruhan, tetapi serangannya tidak berkurang, berterusan mengikuti dua kenderaan terkawal di hadapan. Enam minit lagi, dia naik ke posisi kedua serta-merta, kemudian bermula mengejar pemacu terkawal keseluruhan.

Sementara itu, Pato menggunakan pertahanan yang canggih untuk mengekalkan lawan di belakang, terus melakukan masa lap yang stabil dan cemerlang, mempertahankan posisi keempat keseluruhan, menuju podium kelas Pro-Am. Namun beberapa saat kemudian, bencana datang, lawan berlanggar dengannya dalam overtaking yang disalah anggap, menyebabkan pembalap Indonesia hilang kawalan dan menabrak dinding.

Pato cuba memindahkan kenderaan dari dinding pelindung dan meneruskan perlumbaan, tetapi kedudukan secara tidak elak turun dengan ketara, akhirnya menyelesaikan lumba pada posisi ke-12 keseluruhan. Yang lebih menyedihkan, pasukan didenda kerana melanggar peraturan semasa bendera kuning, peringkat akhir jatuh ke posisi ke-15.

Di bahagian hadapan, Cheng Congfu menyelesaikan lumba pada posisi kedua keseluruhan, meraih podium keseluruhan yang mencengangkan dan kemenangan kelas Silver, mengunci kejuaraan tahunan Piala China musim 2026 untuk dirinya sendiri dan rakan pasukan FAW Audi Sport Asia Phantom Yu Kuai. Walaupun setelah lumba dihukum penalti 5 saat kerana kelajuan tinggi di lorong pit, peringkat akhir kedua-duanya jatuh ke tempat ketiga, tetapi dengan musim memasuki puncak, Cheng Congfu dan Yu Kuai masih berada di kedudukan dalam perebutan kejuaraan tahunan.

Menampilkan Cabaran Dunia GT Piala Asia AWS

Keputusan Babak Kelima

Pusingan Pertama

11. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/Pasukan Audi Sport Asia Phantom FAW

NC. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/Pasukan Audi Sport Asia Phantom

Pusingan Kedua

3. Cheng Congfu/Yu Kuai/Silver/Pasukan Audi Sport Asia Phantom FAW

15. Jaxon Evans/Andrés Pato/Pro-Am/Pasukan Audi Sport Asia Phantom