Aussie kid, Sy blaze to stunning AF3 wins

ROSARIO, BATANGAS — The limelight just couldn’t be taken off the kid.

Christian Jones of Australia bagged the twin races in the international class yesterday of the season-opening Addict Mobile Asian Formula 3 (AF3) Super Prix at the Batangas Racing Circuit.

But it was Tyson Sy’s double victory in the promotions division — or chassis class built before 1998 — that left both local and foreign rivals stupefied at the Filipino wunderkind of Castrol Team Goddard-Minardi Team Asia.

The 16-year-old Sy actually even had a chance to barge in the top three overall in the first race but a critical spin-out on the last turn of the fourth lap pushed him back from a comfortable spot at third to fifth place.

Sy’s noontime finish of 22 minutes and 20.3 seconds was good for fifth overall. His fastest lap, accomplished on the fourth with a time of one minute and 26.49 seconds, was a three-day best for the Brent School ninth-grader.

He finished sixth overall in the afternoon race but still emerged No.1 at the podium in the same division, which galvanized his status as the future of local autoracing.

"When I was behind him I thought I was teaching him too well," joked Minardi teammate Mark Goddard of Great Britain, who tailed Sy in the early goings of Race One before the teenager’s error on the fourth.

"Medyo pagod na rin ako. Hindi ako masyadong nakapagpakondisyon kaya‚ pag pasok pa lang ng fourth hirap na ako," said Sy, who is seeing action on the AF3 circuit for the first time in his promising career.

Occupying second spot on the pole position in the noontime contest, the 24-year-old Jones took advantage of an early miscue by Irish driver John O’Hara and never looked back thereafter to cover all 12 laps in 21 minutes and 52.76 seconds and garner 20 points for the victory.

He also won the second race in the afternoon with a time of 17 minutes and 27.66 seconds that awarded him an aggregate 40 points going to the second leg of the AF3 in Subic Bay on May 29.

The resurgent O’Hara, representing Shell Kinetic F3, collected 30 points —15 in each race — after finishing bridesmaid twice behind Jones, who also won the last round of the AF3 here last year.

Goddard also finished at third place back-to-back for 24 points.

"This is a better win for me definitely because of guys like John who just make this type of competition a lot stiffer," said the lead guy for Christian Jones Motorsport.

Jojo Silverio of Speedtech Asia topped all Filipinos as he emerged fourth in both races.

The AF3 series opener is supported by Addict Mobile, Yokohama, Denso, Samsung, PLDT MyDSL, Standard Insurance Co. Inc., Department of Tourism, Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation.

It is also backed by Manila Bulletin, NU Rock 107.5 and dzSR Sports Radio.