Denis Lian
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Denis Lian (born 8 March 1972) is a Singaporean race car driver.
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[edit] Karting
Lian started racing at the age of 16 in karting while he was studying in Australia. When he got back to Singapore he was fortunate enough to be sponsored by the best karting team in Singapore: Kartmaster. The owner, Mr Wang gave him made him an opportunity to prove himself with a sponsored drive and he has not looked back since. At the age of 21, he came in second in the Singapore National Karting Championship and finished third in the International Kart Prix. [1]
[edit] Karting to Formula 2000
Lian made his transition to racing cars in 1994 while racing in the Australian Club Racing series. Lian worked his way up the ranks in the series. Then in 1999 he was invited to join the Asian Formula 2000 Racing series. In his first race, 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. One year later, Lian became the overall champion of the series by winning two races and qualifying in pole position twice and breaking two lap records along the way. By doing this, he became the first ever Singaporean to win an international title in motorsport. [2]
[edit] Endurance racing
In 2003, Lian made his debut in endurance racing, driving for the factory TVR Team, competing in the 12hr Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race. A year after, he switched to the Lotus Marquee team and came in fourth at the end of the series. [3]
[edit] 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 there first-ever season in the A1 Grand Prix. [4]
In 2006 Lian also competed in the Formula Asia V6 by Renault occasionally.
[edit] Personal life
Lian owns a Lotus Elise Series 2 and has a pilot licence.
[edit] Achievements
- 1992 - 5th In Singapore National Karting Championship
- 1993 - 2nd In Singapore National Karting Championship, 3rd CIK International Kart Prix
- 1997 - 1st Overall In Melbourne Asian Car Race
- 1999 - 5th Overall In Asian Formula 2000
- 2000 - 4th Overall In Asian Formula 2000, 2nd Overall In Caltex Subaru Rally Challenge
- 2001 - 3rd Overall In Asian Formula 2000
- 2002 - 1st Overall In Asian Formula 2000, 4th Overall In Macau Grand Prix (Asian Formula 2000 Challenge)
- 2003 - 8th Overall In 12hr Merdeka Millennium Endurance
- 2004 - 4th Overall In 12hr Merdeka Millennium Endurance
- 2005 - Formula Palmer Audi Euroseries [5]
