Mikola joins F3 Prost as Minardi signs Yoong

Mikola joins F3 Prost as Minardi signs Yoong

JAKARTA (JP): After three months of rest, Ananda Mikola will
resume his racing career at the Central European Zone
Championship series beginning later this month.

The 20-year-old driver will join the Formula Three Prost Grand
Prix Junior team in the four races remaining in the Central
European competition: on Aug. 26 in Croatia; Sept. 2 in Slovenia;
Sept. 16 in Hungary's Hungaroring circuit; and Sept. 30 in
Austria's A1 Ring circuit.

Ananda's contract with Formula 3000 team Astro Mega came to a
premature end in May due to a lack of financial support after
only three races this season.

"Racing in the Formula Three is indeed a step down after my
previous races in the Formula 3000. But I am sure the new
competition will be no less demanding," Ananda said on Friday.

He said he hoped to perform well, considering the number of
podium finishes in the Formula 3000 races.

Ananda stressed that he had to get back behind the steering
wheel with or without sponsorship.

"I have not received any sponsorship from either the
government or business sector yet. But I will go ahead with my
plans even if I have to spend my own money," he said.

"I intend to show that I'm able to race without having to rely
on the power of money."

For the Central European outings, Ananda said he needs
US$100,000 to pay the racing fees.

Ananda criticized the media for blowing out of proportion
reports that the Indonesian Automotive Foundation (YOI)
channeled more than $1 million into his career.

"Such negative coverage over the funds from YOI has
discouraged sponsors from financing my career. The fund was given
to the right person because I am a racer," he said.

Like his son Ananda, Tinton Suprapto downplayed reports that
former Formula 3000 driver Alex Yoong of Malaysia had joined the
Formula One team of Minardi and will start racing in the Belgium
Grand Prix at the Spa circuit on Sept. 2.

"Yoong receives strong financial support from his country and
the business sector. He did achieve a good result in his previous
Nippon Formula 3000 in Japan," said Tinton.

"You can join any Formula One team if you have enough money."

Yoong admitted that he had secured a sponsor but emphasized
that skills were foremost.

"Magnum Corporation Malaysia is my main sponsor for the
Formula One," he told AFP. "No amount of money will get a racer
into the Formula One if he does not have the capability in the
first place.

"That is what all Formula One teams first look at and then
after that what sort of commercial support will follow this
driver into the Formula One."

Yoong is set to become the first Southeast Asian to race in
the Formula One and has a contract to drive with Minardi for the
rest of 2001 and 2002.

"If everything goes smoothly in my third test at Mugello on
Sept. 22 and Sept. 23, the super license will be issued. Belgium
is very feasible for my first F1 race and in any case I think
Monza in Italy will be at the latest," he said. (nvn)