The opening race of the 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia season in Shanghai was abandoned following a significant multi-car incident at the start, bringing an early red flag and ultimately forcing officials to cancel the race.
The incident unfolded within seconds of lights out, triggered by polesitter Naquib Azlan, who failed to launch from the grid after burning the clutch at the start. The loss of drive at the front of the field created an immediate concertina effect behind, culminating in a heavy multi-car collision involving several drivers, including Francis Tjia.
Given the scale of the accident and the extent of damage across multiple cars, race control immediately suspended proceedings. After a delay, the decision was made not to restart the race, meaning no green-flag racing laps were completed.
Attention quickly turned to the condition of those involved. Azlan confirmed he was unharmed, while Tjia required further medical evaluation. He was initially assessed at the circuit medical centre before being transported by helicopter to Huashan Hospital. Officials later confirmed his injuries were not life-threatening.
Azlan later reflected on the incident, stating he was “thankful to come away okay and safe,” while also noting that the team would need to fully understand what led to the start failure. From a technical standpoint, clutch overheating or excessive slip off the line is consistent with the symptoms observed, particularly in high-torque standing starts where precise bite point control is critical.
The incident left teams facing a rapid turnaround ahead of Race 2, with significant repair work required overnight to return cars to the grid. For Azlan, it was a costly setback after showing clear front-running pace throughout the weekend.
Race 2 was scheduled for the following day at 11:55 local time, shifting the focus from recovery to execution after a disrupted start to the season.
