Sports/Olympics / Motor Racing

Women break the mold in Asian F3
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-09-08 13:33

In the male dominated world of motor racing, the presence of three female drivers in the single- seater car promotion class in the upcoming Asian Formula 3 event in Indonesia should add new color and help boost the popularity of the sport, the Jakarta Post daily reported on Friday.

Alexandra Asmasoebrata will race under the banner of Team R and W during the September 19-23 competition at the Sentul International Circuit, south of Jakarta. She will face a tough challenge from Gaby Dela Merced and Michelle Bumgarner, both of the Philippines, along with the male drivers.

Unlike most races in the Asian Formula 3, which take place over a weekend, the event at Sentul is a combined series originally slated for August and September.

To date, six teams have confirmed their participation in the race. These are R and W Joson F3 Team Indonesia, Speedtech Asia, Team Goddard, Fujitsu Racing with Threebond JA Motorsports, Aran Racing and Shell Helix Kinetic F3 PCSO.

They will field a total of between 14 and 16 racers.

Indonesian brothers Bagoes and Satrio Hermanto will compete in the international category and promotion category, respectively. Moreno Soeprapto, the younger brother of Ananda Mikola, will be running in the international category.

Ananda, who won the last leg of the Formula V6 Asia driving for Renault at Sentul in mid-July, and another hopeful, Zahir Ali, have yet to confirm their participation in the event.

Asian Formula 3 president director Mekky A Singgih said in a press statement that the event, titled Asian Formula 3 and Motorsports Festival, would also feature races in GT Touring, Super Touring, Suzuki Swift one-make race and Superbike.

In addition, there will be a Ferrari and Porsche sports car track day featuring Ferrari and Porsche clubs.