Frederic Vervisch and Rafael Suzuki, of Eurasia Motorsports associate team, Team Goddard, finished in second and third places in the first round of the Asian F3 Series 2007-8 held at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. David Julian in the teams Dallara 398 was Promotions Class winner.
Vervisch and Suzuki had wrapped up the front row in qualifying but it was Hamad Al Fardan who led into turn one after a fantastic start. Vervisch was alongside into turn four but contact was made spinning the Belgian to the tail of the field. In a great come-back drive, Vervisch scythed his way back up the field to finish second and take a point for fastest lap over one second quicker than the race winner. “I should have been more patient” rued the Belgian.
Suzuki was slow off the line dropping to fifth place but he was soon on the tail of the battling Matt Howson and Arturo Gonzales. However Howson touched Gonzales under braking for turn nine on lap four, pitching the Mexican into a wild spin. Rafael was forced to brake to a standstill to avoid Gonzales whilst Howson continued unabated. Once free of Gonzales, Suzuki then closed on Howson and despite getting alongside at the last turn on the final lap he just failed to grab third place. However Howson was given a thirty second penalty for a false start, he was outside his starting box, dropping him to fifth behind Gonzales.
David Julian had a spirited race with Paul Ip before finishing his first International race on the Promotions Class podium. “I had a blast” reported the delighted American.
