*Impressive debut by 16-year-old Briney Rigby

Sunday, 5 October, LIUZHOU (China): Mike Szymura moved to the top of the F-4s Trophy points table with an easy flag-to-finish victory in race 1, which was yellow flagged on lap 8 when Team Mad Croc debutant Ronny Mathys crashed out.

Of the three rookie drivers lining up in Liuzhou for round 2, 16-year-old Briney Rigby from Lower Portland, Australia was by far the most impressive and produced the drive of the race to take a well-deserved second place for Team Sweden ahead of Norway's Jan Andre Landsnes.

Pole-sitter Szymura led from the start and was cruising and well clear when the yellow flag was raised. Behind him a great battle was played between two of the newcomers, with Rigby eventually finding a way past Team Nautica's Joakim Halvorsen on lap 6.

From the restart Szymura again raced off into the distance to win the 22-lap race comfortably and a lap clear of the field, with Rigby unchallenged and taking the chequered flag in second to cap a great debut.

Halvorsen was unable to maintain the pace he showed earlier in the race and was overhauled on lap 13 by Landsnes, with Team Abu Dhabi's Mohamed Al Mehairbi and Qatar's Mohammed Al Obaidly enjoying a great scrap for fifth and sixth spots, Al Mehairbi claiming the Middle East bragging rights passing his rival in the closing stages.

Despite crashing out, Ronny Mathys' had produced a great drive from the back of the field in the early stages after failing to start in qualifying and was up to fifth and about to pass Halvorsen when he hooked losing time and then half a lap later went over trying to make it up.

It was a disappointing race for Team CTIC China's Wu Bingchen, hooking at the start of lap 2 then retiring before the end of it, Qatar's Khalid Al Kuwari joining him on the retirees list.