Britain's Saunders earns top spot in Formula Asia

Britain's Saunders earns top spot in Formula Asia

JAKARTA (JP): Britain's Brian Saunders regained top position in the Formula Asia auto racing championship yesterday at the Sentul circuit in West Java as strong challengers scrambled with engine problems.

Saunders reigned in both races of the championship's second leg, silencing home favorite Roy Haryanto who slid his FA-2000 car off the track just after starting the second race.

The Briton now leads the driver's championship with 67 points, edging 17-year-old Roy into second place with 55 points. Roy managed to serve warning to Saunders in the opening round, but the Briton held on to complete the 14 laps with a 10-second margin.

The opening race was shortened by one lap after a delay caused by oil on the track.

Roy's Indonesian rival, Chandra Alim, was able to steal some of the better known driver's thunder. He drove safely to finish third and second in the first and second races and advances to third place with 47 points.

Defending champion Saunders scored his second win of the day in a incident-packed race which saw Swede Niclas Jonsson's hopes dashed when he came together with Saunders. A broken drive shaft also robbed Alexander Yoong of a win.

Yoong produced a blistering start from the fifth grid to go second behind pole-man and Sonencher teammate Saunders for several laps before the accident forced him out.

Jonsson, a Formula Asia debutant, sped up to catch the Sonencher team duo. The Swede attempted a desperate pass in the 11th lap, only to have his car spin out.

"I was defending my inside and he tried to go round the outside and went over my front wheel," said Saunders.

The championship series, the region's only international single-seater championship sanctioned by the FIA, will move to the Shah Alam circuit in Malaysia in July. (amd)