Accident mars AF3 practice

ROSARIO, Batangas — Japanese newcomer Katsuhiro Konno crashed into a wall just before the end of a long straightaway at the Batangas Racing Circuit Thursday, abruptly ending practice sessions for the opening two legs of the 2005 Addict Mobile Asian Formula 3 Super Prix here this weekend.

After hitting the wall, Konno’s Dallara F301 Toms Toyota car bounced back into the track and caught fire but was immediately put out by responding track personnel. To the relief of everybody, Konno walked away with a mere ankle injury although he will no longer be able to race on Sunday, reducing the starting field to 15.

The accident damaged the track and forced organizers to cancel three more practice sessions for the day to enable track crew to repair the damage in time for Friday’s practice sessions of the circuit backed by Addict Mobile, Motolite, Boysen, Yokohama Tires, Lima City Hotel and PLDT MyPad (www.pldtmypad).

Everybody was stunned by the accident but AF3 chairman Ed Peña was quick to point out it showed that formula car racing is safe and adheres to international safety standards observed in international racing.

"It’s unfortunate that Konno met this accident but this also showed the positive side of formula three racing. Although going at full speed, he sustained only an ankle injury and he can race in the next legs," said Peña.

Before Konno’s crash, everything went well for the rest of foreign and local drivers, especially Indon Ananda Mikola of Threebond Racing of Japan and 17-year-old Dado Peña of Team Goddard, Inc. who posted the fastest clockings at the 3.4-kilometer track.

Mikola, who will turn 25 later this month, clocked one minute and 24 seconds flat, barely ahead of Pena who timed 1:24.2. Another Filipino, Tyson Sy of Speedtech, was third in 1:25.1 while John O’Hara of Ireland, racing for Team Tom’s, clocked 1:25.5 in the series that has as media partners Magic 89.9, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, 99.5 RT and 103.5 K-Lite. Highlights of the practice sessions can be accessed at www.asianf3.net

Team Goddard’s Greg Murphy of Ireland submitted the fastest time of 1:30, followed by Filipinos John Marcelo of Christian Jones Motorsports and JP Tuason of Tuason Racing who clocked 1:32 and 1:33, respectively.

Macau native Rodolfo Avila, 17, racing for the first time in the open division, clocked 1:25.8, followed by Briton James Winslow who timed 1:26.0. Veteran Pepon Marave, the 2003 champion, was next in 1:27.0, followed by Indonesian Moreno Soeprapto in 1:27.5, JP Carino in 1:36.7 and Enzo Pastor in 1:37.0. Defending champion Christian Jones of Australia failed to test his car due to the accident that sidelined Konno.

Stifling heat greeted the drivers but this proved to be the least of their worries, especially Mikola who said: "The more humid, the better. I am confident with my car and the weather. It’s more hotter in my country."

Dado Pena, for this part, said: "I’m not bothered at all by the weather.

"I expect things to get better and better," added the toast of the Team Goddard, Inc. over a lunch of rice, steamy beef stew, fried pork chop and barbecue.

Jones laughed off the weather, saying: "The weather?

It is not my concern. I live in Makati."