Chris Wootton took another fine second place in round two of the Formula BMW Pacific Series supporting today’s Malaysian F1GP at the Sepang Circuit. Wootton now lies second in the driver’s championship whilst Eurasia Motorsport leads the Team Championship despite Axcil Jefferies failing to finish after being crashed out of the race by an errant competitor.
Wootton made a good start in damp conditions from second on the grid and took the lead closely followed by team mate Axcil Jefferies and Rio Haryanto. Wootton immediately drove away from the field and had a large lead by the final turn on the first lap. Turn 15 was the wettest corner on the circuit and Wootton ran wide on the exit, narrowly missing the wall. He was still able to rejoin just behind Axcil Jefferies and the pair crossed the line in first and second place. However Haryanto was able to take advantage of the melee and took the lead. Wootton followed him through whilst Jefferies dropped to third place in the confusion.
It all went for Jefferies at turn 11 when Calvin Wong speared into the Zimbabwean, Axcil’s rear wheel riding over the front wheel of Wong tipping him into a spectacular ride through the gravel and into retirement. He did have the consolation of having led a race however and he will surely be a factor in the championship this year.
Wootton kept the pressure up despite having lost his front splitter causing a handling imbalance. The race was cut short after five laps and results declared with half points awarded.
Mark Goddard of Eurasia Motorsport reported “The team is happy as we know we will be a factor in this year’s championship with two competitive drivers. Chris was a little unlucky not to win this weekend and it’s only a matter of time before he will win his first race. Axcil now has his first event under his belt, he led for a lap and we are sure he will be fully competitive at the second event in Sepang in May.”
