Ananda wins again in Croatian Formula 3 race

Ananda wins again in Croatian Formula 3 race

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Formula Three driver Ananda Mikola of
the RC Sports-Prost Grand Prix Junior team booked his second
victory at the Central European Zone Formula 3 Championship in
Croatia's Grobnik circuit on Saturday.

Starting from pole was not a good thing at the Grobnik circuit
for Ananda, as the circuit was very dirty on that side of the
grid and at the start championship leader Tom Nemarnik passed
Ananda into the first corner.

Lap after lap Ananda followed Nemarnik looking for an
opportunity to pass; however, Nemarnik, the championship leader,
was not going to give up the lead easily, as reported by Ananda's
website www.ananda-mikola.com.

Both drivers were lapping at record speeds, then on lap 13
Ananda made a brilliant overtaking move around the outside of the
first corner, to the cheers of spectators. This was very special
as Ananda had to pass on the dirty side of the track, which was
very slippery, but he bravely kept ahead and Nemarnik could do
nothing about it.

Once into the lead Ananda pulled away over the last 5 laps to
lead by 2.280 seconds, clocking 25min:25.268 sec. Third was
Ananda's Italian teammate Ivan Bellarosa with 25 min:30.669.

Ananda appeared on the podium again for winning the round of
the Austrian championship race, as the race event today also
counted toward the Austrian Championship, so two podiums in a day
was unbelievable.

"That was a hard race as Tom was driving very well and
protecting his position. I took a gamble to pass him around the
outside as it was the only place he was not defending," Ananda
said.

Meanwhile, Ananda's manager, Pier Hunnisett said: "It was a
brilliant drive by Ananda; I am so proud of him, I wish more
Indonesian supporters could have been here to see his
achievement."

"Ananda's overtaking was unbelievable, around the outside into
the first corner, I didn't think he was going to make it but he
came out in the lead. It was like Jacques Villenueve's stunning
overtaking move on Michael Schumacher at Estoril," said team
manager Francesco Ravera. (nvn)