Bagoes wins 8th leg of Formula Asia 2000

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Bagoes Hermanto won the eighth leg of the Formula Asia 2000 in Sentul, near Bogor, on Sunday.

Bagoes, from the Marlboro-Castro Meriti team, clocked the fastest time in 19 minutes 12.622 seconds from a field of 13 cars over 12 laps.

Stanley Irawan came second, only 04.809 seconds behind Bagoes, for Indonesia's Humpuss Racing Team. Nattaphong Horthongkum of Thailand's AIM Motorsport Team came third, 08.288 seconds behind the winner.

Nattaphong recorded the fastest lap time of 01:34.924 seconds in the 12th lap.

"I am satisfied with my victory and I will do my best in the ninth leg in Shuhai, China on Sept. 27 and 28," Bagoes said after the race.

Three other local racers -- Hari Dharma of Humpuss Racing Team, Fino Saksono of Primajasa Team and Moreno Soeprapto -- took fourth, fifth and ninth places respectively.

With Sunday's victory, Bagoes leads the 15-leg series this year on 138 points. Nattaphong is in second spot on 113 points and Nurmad Jusat of Malaysia is in third place with 96.

Marshal Jaya of the Sigma Speed Team won the national Group N class (1,100cc to 1,600cc) on Sunday.

Driving a Honda Estilo, Marshal clocked the fastest time of 23:57.929 in 12 laps from a field of 12 racers.

Jimmy Lukita of the Toyota Indonesia Team came second, only 2.755 seconds behind Marshal. Third place went to Marina, a woman racer, who was 9.134 seconds behind.

Tonno K. Santana of the Godam Perkasa Team came equal first in the N-2 class race (up to 1,300cc) driving a Startlet. His time was 25:04.346. Ninik Soetrisno equaled first. Aditya was third, 04.409 seconds behind.

The formula race was held to commemorate Indonesia's 52nd year of independence. There were four other races including the SEA Touring Car and slalom test.

In the Gudang Garam SEA Touring event, Charles Kwan of the Hong Kong EKS Motorsport Team took first place in 17:34.789. Limantharak Kriangkai with a BMW 320i came second, 03.037 seconds behind Kwan. Ratanakul Serircongrith Prutirat was third at 01.860 seconds behind.

In the slalom test, James Sanger of Palembang won the A class with 280.72 points driving a Suzuki Elena. Hendrik B. of Pekanbaru in a Suzuki Esteem won the B class with 305.29 points.

Yudi Hermawan won the beginners' class with 338.67 points. Cindy Yustisia of Lampung won the women's class with 353.63 points.

The E class was won by James Sanger and Rickey Herdiana of Semarang with 284.42.

The third and final leg of the slalom test will be in Yogyakarta on Nov. 23. (lnt)