Denis Lian

Denis Lian, A1GP driver for A1 Team Singapore.

Denis Lian (traditional Chinese: 練建勝) (born 8 March 1972) is a Singaporean race car driver.

Denis Lian is Singapore's most successful professional racing driver. In 2002, he was crowned Asian Formula 2000 Champion, becoming the first Singaporean to win an international motorsports title. In 2003 & 2004, he drove for TVR Malaysia and Lotus Cars Asia Pacific respectively, in various endurance races. In 2005, he became the first Singaporean to compete in Europe when he raced in the Formula Palmer Audi Euro Series. In 2006, he established his own Formula V6 Asia race team to compete in the region's premier series, finishing 5th overall as driver and owner. Later that year, he was given the honor to represent Singapore in A1GP, the World Cup of Motorsports, racing for A1 Team Singapore in the first two rounds of the series. Denis was also the brand manager for Lotus Cars Singapore from 2004 to 2005 and currently races a Lotus in various international endurance events, like the 24h Dubai and 12h Sepang. In early 2010, Denis joined Wearnes Automotive as their Motorsports Manager.

Karting

Lian started karting at the age of 9 and continued to do so while he was studying in Australia. When he got back to Singapore he was fortunate enough to be sponsored by the top kart racing team: Kartmaster. The owner, Roland Chong gave him an opportunity to prove himself with a sponsored drive and he did not disaapoint. At the age of 21, he was runner-up in the Singapore National Karting Championship and finished third overall in the 1993 International Kart Prix.^[1]

Karting to Formula 2000

Denis Lian preparing to compete in the 2002 Formula Asia 2000 race at Macau

Lian made his transition to racing cars in 1994 while competing in the Australian Club Racing series. Lian worked his way up the club ranks by winning every race he entered. Then in 1999 he was invited to join the Asian Formula 2000 Racing series. In his first race at Johor Circuit, Lian qualified 5th on the grid and finished 5th in the race. Two years later, he became a full-time Formula 2000 racer and clinched 3rd overall in the series. In 2002, Lian became the overall champion of the 14 round series by winning three races and qualifying in pole position twice, going on to break two lap records along the way. By doing this, he became the first ever Singaporean to win an international motorsports title. In 2003, Lian made his debut in endurance racing, driving for the factory TVR Asia Team, competing in the 12hr Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race and finishing 8th overall. A year after, he switched to the R3 Motorspots team and came in fourth overall at the same 12hr Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race ^[1]

From Asia to the world

In 2005, Lian became the first Singaporean to compete in Europe when he entered the Formula Palmer Audi Euroseries halfway through the season. With no testing done in the series, Lian stunned the press by finishing in the top five at all the classic race venues. A year after, A1 Team Singapore asked him to join them in their first-ever season in the A1 Grand Prix. In 2006 Lian also competed in the Formula V6 Asia by Renault as the only team owner and driver. He finished 5th overall in that series.

GT Racing

In 2008, Lian shifts his racing interest towards GT racing, driving for Empire Motorsports, competing in a Lotus 2 Eleven GT4 in various international endurance events like the 24hr Dubai and 12hr Merdeka Millennium Endurance

Personal life

Lian SCUBA dives and sails for pleasure. He also has a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) and does indulge in aerobatic flying occasionally.

Achievements

• 5th overall, 2006 Formula V6 Asia Championship. Drove for A1GP Team Singapore at the 2006 Czech Republic Grand Prix, 17th overall (1st Singaporean Grand Prix driver).

• Mid season participation in the 2005 Formula Palmer Audi Championship. 8th overall at Spa, 6th overall Monza and 5th overall Brands Hatch (1st Singaporean to compete in Europe).

• Works driver for Proton R3 Motorsports, 4th overall, 2004 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race.

• Works driver for TVR Malaysia, 8th overall, 2003 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race.

• 4th overall, 2002 Macau Grand Prix, Asian Formula 2000 Challenge.

• 2002 Asian Formula 2000 Champion. 3 wins, 2 pole-positions and 2 lap records (1st Singaporean to win an International Motorsports championship). Works driver for Lotus Cars Asia Pacific, 2002 Merdeka 12hr Endurance race.

• 3rd overall, 2001 Asian Formula 2000 Championship. Works driver for Lotus Cars Asia Pacific, 2002 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race (1st Singaporean to compete in the Merdeka Millennium Endurance race).

• 4th overall, 2000 Asian Formula 2000 Championship (round 2 spot entry). 2nd overall, 2000 Caltex Subaru Rally Challenge (2WD Class). 3rd overall, 2000 Singapore Tour de Rally (2WD Class)

• 5th overall, 1999 Asian Formula 2000 Championship (round 11 spot entry. Debut formula car race). 11th overall, 1999 Sepang F1 Grand Prix support race, Proton GTi Challenge.

• 1st overall, 1997 Melbourne Asian Car Race (Australia), driving a Group N Subaru WRX. 2 overall wins in the 1997 Australian Club Car Series, driving a Group N Subaru WRX.

• 2nd overall, 1993 Singapore National Karting Championship, scoring the most FTD’s. 3rd overall, 1993 CIK International Kart Prix (ICA).

Complete A1 Grand Prix results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Denis Lian.

References