Samuel Hsieh
Hsieh at the 2012 59th Macau Grand Prix
NationalityHong Kong Hong Kong
Born (1978-07-26) 26 July 1978 (age 46)
Hong Kong
TCR China career
Debut season2017
Current teamTeamwork Motorsport
Car number26
Starts2
Previous series
2016
2015
2014
2013
2009–2012, 2014
China GT Championship
China Touring Car Championship
Chinese Racing Cup
Touring Car Series in Asia
Hong Kong Touring Car Championship
Awards
2013HK Driver Bronze Award by Hong Kong Automobile Association

Samuel Hsieh (Traditional Chinese: 謝森) (born 26 July 1978) is a Hong Kong touring car racing driver, he is currently competing in TCR China for Teamwork Motorsport[1] in a Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR.


Early years

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Hsieh made his debut in 2004 at the age of 24 at Zhuhai International Circuit, entered a weekend of the Hong Kong Touring Car Championship with a Honda Civic.

Due to financial reasons, he has yet to race again until 2009, when he sold his road car to acquire a used Group N Honda Integra race car to made his full season return.

Career

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Hsieh took part in N2000 Class with China Dragon Racing, he also raced in Macau Grand Prix’s supporting race the same year.

In 2010/2011, he continued in Hong Kong's championship[2] and Macau Grand Prix. Also had one round appearance at China Touring Car Championship in 2010, Zhuhai.

In 2012, he switched to 'Road Sport', a category for heavily modified road cars held by Hong Kong Automobile Association, where he worked with China Dragon Racing by becoming their test/race driver for the team's Subaru Impreza. He entered the season with just two races, finished both on the podium[3].

Touring Car Series in Asia (2013)

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Hsieh set foot into regional championship with China Dragon Racing, using their Subaru at Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit, finished the season second overall in the championship with 4 podiums[4].

Return to the Hong Kong Touring Car Championship (2014)

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In 2014, after two years spent in Road Sport, Hsieh was set to return to race Group N for Teamwork Motorsport. Where he had 3 wins and finished second in the championship, just 2 points shy of taking the season title.

Chinese Racing Cup (2014)

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A Runner Up finish in the Hong Kong's championship, rewarded him the opportunity to representing Hong Kong Automobile Association to race against other ASN drivers in the Greater China Region[5]. He claimed victory at the round in Macau, and finished 6th in the series.

Hsieh joined the grid of the China Touring Car Championship in 2015, driving a Citroën C-Elysée run by Teamwork Motorsport[6], whilst still chasing funds to compete in full season. He scored 2 front row starts[7] including 1 pole position[8] among his 3 appearances. At the end of the season he was able to return to the championship for a one-off duty with factory outfit Changan Ford Racing Team[9].

In 2016, he landed a half season drive with another factory-supported team Haima Z1 Racing[10]. He outscored his teammates in the drivers standings, but yet to secure the drive for the rest of the season.

China GT Championship (2016)

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Hsieh made his GT debut in the inaugural season of the China GT Championship, driving an Audi R8 LMS for Beijing outfit Ling Rui 300+. He finished as runner-up in the GTC drivers standings[11].

TCR China (2017)

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Hsieh join hands with Teamwork Motorsport in the inaugural season of TCR China, pair up with Macanese driver Filipe de Souza in a Volkswagen Golf GTi TCR.[12]

Hsieh has competed at their supporting races on six occasions; from 2009 to 2011 with China Dragon Racing Honda Integra, 2012 and 2013 in their Subaru Impreza.

He was awarded 'Hong Kong Driver Bronze Award' by Hong Kong Automobile Association in 2013, by finishing third among Hong Kong drivers in the 'Macau Road Sport Challenge' at the 60th Macau Grand Prix[13].

Hsieh won the Macau round of Chinese Racing Cup in 2014 with a Senova D70[14].

Endurance Racing (2012-2016)

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Hsieh participated endurance races in Guangdong International Circuit regularly, he raced events from 3 hours to 12 hours with Peugeot 307, Volkswagen Scirocco, Renault Clio and Toyota 86, he had claimed three class wins and a second place in 8 outings[15].

Fitness

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Inspired by Jenson Button, Hsieh stays fit through triathlon, which aid his endurance performance and mental toughness. He competes up to Half-Ironman distance.

Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles FLaps Podiums Points Position
2009 Hong Kong Touring Car Championship China Dragon Racing 4 0 0 0 0 64 12nd
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 32nd
2010 Hong Kong Touring Car Championship China Dragon Racing 8 0 0 0 4 212 4th
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
2011 Hong Kong Touring Car Championship China Dragon Racing 8 0 0 0 2 70 5th
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 6th
2012 Hong Kong Touring Car Championship China Dragon Racing 2 0 0 0 2 22 5th
Macau Grand Prix 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 11st
2013 Touring Car Series of Asia China Dragon Racing 4 0 0 0 4 44 2nd
Macau Grand Prix Teamwork Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th
2014 Hong Kong Touring Car Championship Teamwork Motorsport 8 3 0 1 3 78 2nd
Chinese Racing Cup Hong Kong Automobile Association 4 1 0 0 0 14 6th
Macau Grand Prix 1 1 0 0 0 N/A 1st
2015 China Touring Car Championship Teamwork Motorsport 3 0 1 0 0 5 NC
Changan Ford Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2016 China Touring Car Championship Haima Z1 Racing 6 0 0 0 0 33 NC
China GT Championship Ling Rui 300+ 8 1 0 0 6 127 2nd
Super Endurance Championship Grid Motorsport 3 1 0 0 0 16 3rd
2017 TCR China Teamwork Motorsport 2† 0 0 0 0 30‡ 5th*

Races driven by co-driver not shown Points share with co-driver * Season in progress

References

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