TOM’S Asia have signed up ace Japanese engineer, Adachi San, who worked for Kinetic F3 last year. Adachi brings John O’Hara with him to TOM’S. O’Hara, assuming he raises the funds, will drive the Dallara 302/4 chassis previously pedaled by Enzo Pastor and he will be joined by Dado Pena also in a 304 Chassis. The team have tested Rudolfo Avila, the 2003 Asian Formula Renault Champion, also in a 304 chassis. Expect Avila to sign for TOM’S.
2004 Team Champion, Shell Kinetic, will once again have Pepon Marave behind the wheel of his Dallara 301 Torri car. A team mate for Marave is yet to be announced. They hope to run a third car, as they did for the final 2004 events. It is rumoured that James Winslow, who has already tested for Team Goddard is also in the frame at Kinetic.
Speedtech Asia will run Tyson Sy in their 301 TOM’S car, his team mates are yet to be decided. Sy has moved from Team Goddard with whom he won the Promotions Class title in 2004 reportedly due to budgetary constraints. Who will drive Speedtech's promotion class cars is as yet unknown.
JF3 Racing have not indicated who their drivers will be, Richard Joson suggesting he may stand aside for a quick driver with the required budget. An unknown Japanese is in the frame but don’t bet against Joson being behind the wheel for the first event at Batangas on April 10th. Kenkou Muira, who drove for the Team last year, is hoping to get the budget together to run with the team.
2004 Driver Championship winning team, CJM, will again run Christian Jones and he will joined by John Marcelo, brother of Filipino racing legend Jovy. The team have purchased a new 301 chassis to replace the one destroyed in the final race of 2004 and they have also obtained a 304 chassis to complete a three car line up with the ex-Dado Pena 398. What car Marcelo will drive is unknown, talk of the 398 or 304 car being heard. What chassis Jones will drive is also unknown.
New to AF3, Team T.E.C. Pilipinas have bought two ex Vertex Racing 301 Renault Sodemo cars and are currently looking for drivers. One of the cars is likely to be taken by a Pastor brother.
It is rumoured that JP Tuason may enter a car for Tuason Racing in the Promotions Class for as yet unnamed driver. Another rumour is that Ananda Mikola will compete the whole season in a single entry car from a Japanese Team running an engine new to AF3. Watch this space for details.
Team Goddard have been the most active team testing new drivers in the past month but have yet to sign a driver. ARP F3 Champion, James Winslow and Australian B.D. Dawson who successfully tested are in the frame but the team are also running a European Junior Formula Champion later this month and they are speaking to Mars Hsieh amongst others. Moreno Soeprapto is also in the frame for the Promotions Class.
There is no news on drivers for Team BRM , the Australian based team are still working on an Australian driver to join the whole season with them.
The interest level from drivers World Wide is known to be high, and as we hear more news on new signings asianf3.net will be first to give you the news.
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