Goddard, Marave split honors in AF-3

Defending Asian Formula 3 Series champion Mark Goddard of Castrol Ambi Pur Car Team Goddard drew level with Shell Casino Filipino FILA Team Tom’s driver Pepon Marave for the lead in the Asian Formula 3 Series 2003 International Class after capitalizing on the misfortune of his rival and winning the second race of Addict Mobile Formula 3 Grand Prix at the Batangas Racing Circuit last Sunday.

It was redemption of sort for Goddard who finished second behind Marave in race one, wherein the Filipino waxed hot and overtook every single car after starting from behind the grid. Third spot was claimed by Denso JF3 Racing’s Richard Joson.

Race Two was a different story, however, as the Manila-based Englishman dove under Marave four corners after the start and set the pace for eight out of the 12 laps. Marave lunged at every opportunity, setting the fastest lap of one minute 15 seconds on more than one occasion, before running over debris left by another car and spinning into the bus stop chicane.

That gave Goddard enough leverage to pull away and take the checkered flag. Joson went on to take second place, while Marave managed to finish third.

With 20 points going to the class winner and 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 to the next seven placers, Marave and Goddard now have 55 points apiece.

In the Promotions class, it was another Castrol Ambi Pur Car driver in Jojo Silverio who took the plum. The son of former Philippine touring car star Dante Silverio, took race one and finished second in the second race to surge ahead of Subic leg winner and erstwhile series leader Mike Potenciano of Shell Casino Filipino Team Tom’s.

Potenciano spun out at the hairpin after touching wheels with Joson in race one. Race two was ruled by 2002 Asian Formula Renault champion and Casino Filipino Fujitsu Ten Team Tom’s Petron driver Enzo Pastor, who engaged Silverio in a race-long battle to the finish. Taking third place in races one and two were Speedtech Asia drivers JP Tuason and Roland Hermoso, respectively.

Both Silverio and Potenciano now have 50 points each, while Hermoso, Tuason and Pastor have 47, 44 and 35, respectively.

The two class AF3 series, promoted by E Colby Ventures, Inc. in the Philippines with Addict Mobile as title sponsor and major sponsored by Pagcor Sports Casino Filipino, minor sponsored by PTA, DOT PCSO and Mirant.

The next leg of the Asian Formula 3 Series 2003 series, sponsored by Yokohama, Denso and RCL-Regional Container Lines will be held on July 19 and 20 at the Bira Circuit in Thailand.