Ace drivers race for pride, honor in AF-3 finale

The championships may have been decided but, as far as the drivers are concerned, there is still plenty to race for in the Addict Mobile Formula 3 Super Prix which will be held this weekend at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas.

Pride and honor will be on the minds of the competitors when they gather on the grid for this final leg of the Asian Formula 3 (AF3) Series 2003, which is organized by the AF3 Corp. and backed by Yokohama Tires, Denso, and Regional Container Lines.

The event is presented by Addict Mobile and supported by Fila, Hewlett Packard, Samsung and Lima Hotel.

Reprising their season-long hostilities are new AF-3 International Class titleholder Pepon Marave of Shell Casino Filipino Team Tom’s and round 12 winner Richard Joson of Denso Hanjin JF3, who is hanging precariously onto second placE in the standings. Waiting ominously on the wings is outgoing champion Mark Goddard of Castrol Ambi Pur Team Goddard, who is in a position to snatch runner-up honors from Joson. Threatening to thwart all their plans is Australian F3 driver Christian Jones–son of 1980 Formula One world champion Alan Jones.

Castrol Ambi Pur Team Goddard’s Jojo Silverio is already assured of the Promotional Class championship but he is still intent on standing on the top part of the podium this weekend. Behind him, a battle royale is expected for the runner-up spot between 2002 Asian Formula Renault champion Enzo Pastor of Casino Filipino Team Petron and General Motors Speedtech Asia Petron’s Roland Hermoso. The task will be difficult considering the presence of Mike Potenciano of Shell Casino Filipino Team Tom’s and JP Tuason, also of General Motors Speedtech Asia.

"The racing will be close because the Filipino drivers want to do well in front of their home crowd and show that they are just as good, if not better than the foreign entries," said AF-3 chairman Jose Eduardo Peña. "To allow as many people as possible to see all the action, the entry to the general admission area on the track will be free to all. Addict Mobile has also come in as the title sponsor of the live telecast, which is presented by Castrol and Denso and co-presented by Yokohama and Standard Insurance. The show will be aired on NBN 4 on Sunday, 11 a.m. to12 noon and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.," he added.

The AF3 Series 2003 began its season in the Philippines last April and has made the rounds of Thailand, Japan and China, and is Asia’s first international series for Formula 3.

For more information on the Asian Formula 3 Series 2003, log on to the website at www.asianf3.net.