Ananda hoping to reach F-3 Italian series top five

Ananda hoping to reach F-3 Italian series top five

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's rising star Ananda Mikola expressed
optimism on Friday of reaching the world top five in his second
year at the Italian Formula-3 series.

"I was in the top 10 last year and considering my knowledge of
the circuit and my rivals, I'm sure I can get into the top five
this year," said Ananda, who is the son of former national
leading racer Tinton Soeprapto.

Ananda pocketed 24 points in last year's series, failing to
reach the finish line four times due to engine trouble.

Tinton said Ananda would get the super license to compete in
the Formula 3000 before competing in the Formula One if he could
reach the top five position.

"The reason to send Ananda abroad really makes sense because
he has achieved his best form," he said.

Ananda, who will compete under the banner of the RC Motorsport
team, will leave Indonesia to compete in international events for
10 months in Italy. He won the Goro Champ of Champs event in
Bandung and the Timor One Make race in the Sentul International
circuit late last year.

Ananda will get a chance to practice at the Mugello,
Vallelunga and Misano circuits on Feb. 22, March 2 and March 12
respectively.

Antara reported the Formula-3 series consists of the first
series at the Vallelunga circuit on March 29, the second series
at the Mugello circuit on April 19, the third series at the GP F1
Monaco circuit on May 17 and May 24, the fourth series at the
Pergusa circuit on June 7.

The fifth series will take place at the Monza circuit on June
28, the sixth series at the Imola circuit on July 5, the seventh
series at the Imola circuit on July 12, the eighth series at the
Misano and Zandvoort circuits in the Netherlands on July 19 and
Aug. 1, the ninth series at the Binetto circuit on Sept. 27 and
Ananda hoping to reach F-3 Italian series top five the last
series at the Magione circuit on Oct. 25. (yan)