Matt Solomon reduced the points deficit to Championship leader, James Munro, with a calculated drive to second place in the Formula Masters China Series race three held at the Sepang F1 Circuit. Munro finished fourth. Bo Yuan won the best driver trophy for the Sepang event.
Solomon took the lead from pole and led the first four laps from Parsons and Wells. Parsons took over the top spot with a move at Turn 4 which Solomon did not defend too hard mindful of the need to finish the race in front of his championship rival, James Munro. Wells gave Solomon a scare with an optimistic lunge later that lap at the final turn, the former spinning and dropping behind Munro. This allowed Solomon to control the gap and he took the flag in second place reducing the points deficit for the lead of the championship to 14 points only.
Bo Yuan had an eventful race to finish 7th on the road but he was adjudged to have made a false start and with the resultant 30 second penalty fell to 13th place. This was still good enough to take the Best China Driver of the event trophy and he consolidates his lead in the China Driver Championship.
Pu Jun Jin was “very careful” mindful of the four non-finishes he has just suffered, all but one where he was an innocent victim of another driver’s mistake, and drove well to finish 8th. Hua Miao finished 15th after a mistake free race and impressive newcomer, Dominic Tjia, was 16th despite spinning.
“Matt now has the momentum with him which bodes well for the championship and Bo is consolidating his China Driver Championship lead” reports Team Principal Mark Goddard. “Hopefully Pu Jun Jin’s run of bad luck has finally ended and Hua Miao now knows what is required to move further up the grid and I am sure he will do so at the next round which will be held at Zhuhai on September 17-21. Dominic Tjia really impressed the team and he demonstrated a lot of potential”
