Aussie impressive in first day of practice

SUBIC — Continuing his red-hot streak, Australian Christian Jones was once again the most impressive during the first day of practice yesterday serving as tune-up for the second leg of the Asian Formula 3 Super Prix this weekend at the Subic International Raceway here.

The 24-year-old Jones, who’s racing alongside 16-year-old sensation Dado Pena for the team competitions under Christian Jones Motorsport, again lorded over the competing field by clocking 1:11.7 in the first practice and improving it in the second practice at 1:10.2.

Jones and his team again loom as the early favorites to duplicate their respective feat in Batangas, which saw Jones amass a perfect total of 40 points in the overall individual standings and his team garnering a combined best of 44 points .

Jones, however, is far from being complacent. He has remained focused on his non-stop preparations for the qualifying race on Saturday and the actual race on Sunday.

Like everyone else, he’s wary about the dangers of the racetrack here in Subic, which the drivers say got too many concrete walls and dangerous sharp turns.

"The racetrack here is pretty dangerous and rough. But I think this makes it even more challenging. Right now, I’m just cruising nice and steady because I don’t want to end up in the wall," said the amiable Jones.

His statements were not undermined. Defending champion Luis "Pepon" Marave, who had a race from hell at the Batangas Racing Circuit where he didn’t even finish the first race, is officially out for this weekend’s twin races.

Driving his F301 Dallara powered by Toyota at an estimated speed of 150kph, Marave failed to negotiate a sharp turn at the bus stop that made him hit a concrete wall, ripping off the entire left side of his vehicle in the process during practice last Tuesday.

A new entry, Australian Aaron Caratti, also had the right rack of his steering bolt bent and destroyed and the front corner of his car damaged during the first practice race after hitting a wall in the second turn. His appearance for the qualifying race is in jeopardy for his fate hinges on whether or not a replacement steering bolt will arrive in time for Saturday.

"Unfortunately it’s not repairable and isn’t available here so we still have to have it shipped from the United Kingdom. But we’re confident it will arrive worst-case Friday (today)," said Caratti’s team manager Mark Rundle of the gear costing around US$ 2500.

Recording 1:15.2 in the first and 1:14.0 in the second practice, Irishman John O’ Hara, currently second in the individual standings with 30 points after two second-best finishes, also flirted with disaster after his rear wing mysteriously broke off during practice. Good thing he’s got a spare and he’s raring to go on Saturday.