Roy leads in Formula Asia opening leg

Roy leads in Formula Asia opening leg

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Roy Haryanto reigned during the
opening leg of the Formula Asia championship series on Sunday,
winning both races staged at Sentul circuit to achieve the lead
position.

Starting from the front row of the grid, Roy clocked the
fastest time of 23 minutes 23.386 seconds in the first race,
holding off pole man Niclass Jonsson of Sweden, who finished just
1.418 seconds behind.

Eighteen-year-old Roy, in his Humpuss Team racing suit,
repeated his blistering driving performance for another victory
in 23:04.387 and clocked his fastest lap time record of 1:31.084
in the sixth lap. Great Britain's Brian Saunders finished second
with 23:06.452.

"I've got a good car and a good team and I'm in much better
physical condition this year," said Roy, who now tops the
standings with 20 points. Roy ended last season in fourth place.

Jonsson trails in second place with 15 points, despite his
humble time of 1:33.239, which put him in the sixth spot in the
second race.

Indonesia's Steven Tjan fell victim to the 6.3-kilometer track
when his FA200 hit the tire wall on corner two, just as the first
race began. Tjan was uninjured except for slightly bruising his
ribs.

The second leg of the championship series will resume at the
same circuit on May 21. (amd)