Ryu Si-won Cruises to Win Ferrari Challenge

Ryu Si-won (center) celebrates after winning the Ferrari Challenge Series race in Zhuhai, China on Sunday.

Actor Ryu Si-won became the first Korean to win the Ferrari Challenge Series in Zhuhai, southern China, on Sunday. The actor, who both manages and races for Korea's EXR Team 106, also set a new benchmark as the first Korean to represent Ferrari in a racing competition.

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The Ferrari Challenge is divided into two classes named after sponsors Shell and Pirelli. FMK, the official importer of Ferraris into Korea, sponsored Ryu and gave him shot at representing his country on the track for the first time in the Shell Class.

The chiseled actor showed his grit on the track by seizing pole in the preliminaries and never relinquishing his lead. "I did my best as I was representing Korea for the first time", he said. "I'm very happy to have won. It was difficult at first to get used to the car, but I was able to remain calm in the final to achieve my pole-to-finish victory".

Ryu will be aiming to collect back-to-back titles as he prepares for the second round of the race in Shanghai next month.