Bigger AF3 season revs up in six venues

A bigger, better and expanded Asian Formula 3 blasts off this year at six venues around the region with 12 legs of neck-breaking formula car action coming in full throttle beginning with the first two stops in the Philippines on April 9 and 10.

The AF3, the biggest motorsports event this side of earth, returns to the Batangas Racing Circuit with last year’s overall champion Christian Jones of Australia leading the foreign field, which according to AF3 chairman Ed Pena, himself a former race driver, will now include new rising stars in the international racing scene.

"This year’s roster is very, very impressive," described Pena of the event backed by Addict Mobile, Motolite, Boysen, Yokohama Tires, Lima City Hotel and PLDT MyDSL. "After the successful 2004 season, this year’s races are expected to be even tougher, especially with the participation of new local and foreign drivers."

From 10 races last year, the new AF3 season will not have 12 legs with stops set in Zhuhai, China on May 7-8 and June 18-19 for rounds 3-4 and 5-6, respectively; and Sentul, Indonesia on Aug. 20-21 and Sept. 17—18 for rounds 7-8 and 9-10, respectively. The last two races will return to the Batangas Racing Circuit on Nov. 5 and 6.

Aside from Jones, last year’s runner-up, John O’hara of Ireland will also take another crack at the overall championship after a controversial neck-and-neck duel with Jones last year had him penalized for an infraction.

O’hara, however, is putting last year’s incident behind him as he vowed to give Jones a run for his money this year, although most of the returning drivers have admitted they expect to go up against an even tougher field this time with the presence of new local and international drivers testing the Asian circuits.

"If last year’s races were tough, the new AF3 season will be even more difficult for the riders. Many riders have expressed interest in joining the AF3 this season after they saw the success of last year’s races and we have new drivers out to challenge Jones, O’hara and out young local riders," Pena said.

New teams, some of them foreign-based, have also joined the AF3 to back a mixture of foreign and Filipino riders. Three Bond Team, a regular campaigner in the Japanese Formula 3 Circuit, makes a debut in the AF3, while Australian team BRM, a campaigner in the Australian F3, also brings its racing expertise to the Asian tracks.

Also back to take a crack at the team championship are Speed Tech Asia, Denso Hanjin FJ3, Fujitsu Team Toms, Team Tec Asia, and Tuason Racing.