Frederic Vervisch won an exciting round six of the Asian F3 Series from Hamad Al Fardan and Matt Howson. Suzuki was fourth and Niall Quinn fifth. Hamad and Vervisch put on a great display of often side by side racing in the wet conditions.
Hamad, of Team GFH Bahrain, led from the start whilst Team Goddard’s Vervisch slotted into second from Matt Howson of PTRS Racing. Aran Racing’s Niall Quinn was next up from Team Goddard’s Rafael Suzuki. The lead pair pulled out a small gap to Howson who was pulling away from the battling Quinn and Suzuki. The Brazilian found a way past Quinn on lap five and pulled away from the young Irishman who was coping well with the wet conditions and demonstrating a lot of potential. Like Suzuki this was their first experience of racing F3 in the wet.
Meanwhile up front the gap was never more than 1.2 seconds and often it was nothing at all as the leaders fought a hard but fair race for the lead. Several times Vervisch was alongside Hamad only to have to give way. The crowd were certainly being well entertained. Vervisch finally found a way past at turn 3 on lap nine and then drove away setting the race’s fastest lap in the process. Hamad was now under pressure from Howson but try and he may Howson could not find a way past.
“That was my best race in F3” remarked Vervisch. “The racing was close but fair and I really enjoyed it”.
Rounds 7 and 8 of the series will take place tomorrow, Sunday 13th, and its hoped the weather will be kinder. Ironically this is the dry season in this part of the Philippines.
|
