Sy slips to third in AF3

GUANGDONG — Briton James Winslow sped to victory in Round 8 of the Asian Formula Three Series here Sunday even as Irishman Ali Jackson triggered a major overhaul in the standings that left erstwhile leader Tyson Sy of the Philippines slipping to third overall and a lot of catching up to do.

For the second straight day, Dado Peña of Team Goddard failed to finish the race after touching cars with fellow Filipino Pepon Marave in the second lap of the 12-lap race while Sy, coming off a fifth place finish in Round 7 on Saturday, lost control trying to overtake Indonesian Moreno Soeprapto in a tight corner in the ninth lap. Both failed to pick up precious points going into Round 9 later Sunday.

Jackson’s bid for a third straight win was thwarted by Winslow who seized the lead from the Irishman in the second lap but the 17-year-old Aran Racing driver salvaged runner-up honors worth 15 points and moved ahead in the drivers’ championship with 107 points.

Winslow’s Fujitsu Racing with Threebond JA Motorsport teammate, Dillon Battistini, finished fourth behind Soeprapto of Aran Racing and picked up 10 points, good enough to propel him to second overall from third at 98, three points ahead of Sy who remained stuck at 95.

With his first win this year, Winslow, driving a car with a new chassis, earned 20 points and improved to 92, still in fourth but on target to overtake Sy and Battistini since he will start on top of the grid in Round 9. Moreno earned 12 points for his third place finish and improved to 52 in a tie for fifth and sixth places with Peña, who will start at the back of the grid in the next race.

"I started from second on the grid but I really made a good start, got pass Ali and just kept my position. We battled hard at the start but I just kept my pace.

"After this win, my first this year, I’ll just try to do the same thing (in the next race)," said Winslow, noting the chase for the top individual plum has become really tight. "I’ll try to win as many races as I could and just earn my points."

"After losing the lead to Winslow, Jackson opted to stay back and keep Moreno in check the rest of the way, aware that even a second place finish will be enough to catapult him to the overall lead.

"My start was good but they (Winslow and Moreno) also made good starts. I and Moreno had a bit of a contact but everything went well. I had to stay there.

"I have to earn more wins and points," said Jackson, who already has three wins so far this year, counting his breakthrough victory in Round 5 here last month.

Sy, of Speedtech Asia, lost the overall lead but not his enthusiasm and confidence despite continuing problems with his Dallara 304 rebuilt after a crash with teammate Gaby dela Merced in Round 5 here.

"There are still some problems with the car, especially in handling. I’m down by 12 points but I’ll be back this afternoon. There are nine more rounds, may laban pa," he said.

On his failed attempt to overtake Soeprapto, Sy explained: "I was trying to get some space while battling Moreno but I took the slippery part (of the turn). I lost control and I overshot the turn."

Pena kept himself scarce after his latest misadventure but Marave, the overall champion in 2003 driving for Shell Helix Kinetic PCSO, explained the incident that both took them out. "Dado hit me on the side and I spun, hitting him as a result. There was an argument as we got out of our cars but it’s normal. The bad thing is we were both out of the race."