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)