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)