Moreno revved up to compete in Asian F3

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Moreno Soeprapto is moving up in international motor racing competition with a place in the Asian Formula 3 this year, starting at Batangas circuit in the Philippines next week.

The younger brother of fellow F3 competitor Ananda Mikola said he was ready for the challenge of the race, to be held on April 9-10.

"Basically I prepare my fitness every day by going to the gym, but I have intensified the training load in the past three months especially for the race," Moreno, 23, told a media conference here on Thursday.

His 25-year-old brother, driving with the Three Bond Racing team, finished the 2004 season with three wins.

Moreno will drive for Philippines-based Denso Hanjin JF3 along with Katsuhiro Konno of Japan.

Besides Batangas, other circuits staging the 12 races include Sentul in West Java, and Zhuhai, China.

"I will be trying hard for a podium finish," Moreno said.

It will be no easy task, with the field including last year's champion Australian Christian Jones, son of former F1 champion Alan.

However, it's not completely uncharted territory for Moreno, who was a replacement for Speedtech in the final series of last year's championship, also in Batangas.

It followed participating in Formula BMW the whole year, capped with a win in Shanghai.

"The engine is more powerful and higher-performance," he said about the difference with his past racing experience.

Formula 3 races, which are also staged in other parts of the world, are considered the launchpad to a career on the Formula One Grand Prix circuit.

Japanese Takuma Sato, currently driving for F1 team Lucky Strike BAR Honda, is a former champion of British Formula 3.

Asked if he dreamed of moving up to the most prestigious races of all, Moreno said: "Let's see how my progress is. If it turns out to be a successful run, I'm sure there will be a way up further."