Andhika joins Lux Asia team

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's young racing star Andhika Anindyaguna Hermanto yesterday joined the Formula-Four Lux Motorsports Asia Team for the Indonesian legs of the Formula Asia championship scheduled for July and December.

Andhika's admission, recommended by Piers Hunnisett, British Vauxhall Lotus champion in 1992 and a senior driver with the team, was sealed yesterday at a signing between Andhika and president director of PT Ericsson Indonesia, Mats H. Olsson.

The Kuala Lumpur-based team now consists of Hunnisett, Andhika and Malaysian driver Adam Lokman.

The Lux team signed a US$40,115 sponsorship agreement with PT Ericsson Indonesia earlier this month. The agreement is valid until Dec. 31 this year.

Olsson said that it was his preference to choose a young Indonesian driver on the rise such as Andhika.

"I would rather find an Indonesian driver that is not yet so established than trying to get one of the top Indonesian drivers today. I would like to find someone for the future," Olsson said. "After talking to Piers, we understand that Bagoes is the person," he added.

Andhika, or Bagoes as his close friends call him, was born in Jakarta on Dec. 7, 1980. He started his racing career in go-carts in 1994.

He embarked on his Formula Asia career last December while continuing his go-carting. In his championship debut at the Sentul circuit on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, he finished fifth in the 12th leg, tenth in the 13th leg and eighth in the 14th leg. (arf)