11.-13.5.2007 Henri makes it a clean sweep in Indonesia

PRACTICE SESSIONS - FASTEST

Henri Karjalainen was fastest in practice for this weekends Asian F3 Pacific event at Sentul Circuit in Indonesia. Championship leader, Dillon Battistini, was second whilst local hero, Moreno Soeprapto, was a close third, the latter having topped the first session times.

As ever at Sentul tyre wear is a significant factor as none of the three front runners were out at the same time on new rubber. Soeprapto was the only driver to use new rubber in the first session and duly topped the times whilst Henri Karjalainen went out on new tyres in the second session and also topped the times. Battistini was a close second and this was the situation in the third and final session of the day.

FIRST ROUND - LIGHTS TO FLAG

Starting from pole, Henri Karjalainen took a lights to flag win in the first race of the Sentul, Indonesia AF3 Pacific event. Dillon Battistini finished second with Moreno Soeprapto a close third. Paul Ip was the Promotions Class victor.

Karjalainen made a slow start from pole allowing Battistini and Soeprapto alongside but the flying Finn was just able take the lead into the first turn and steadily drew away to take a consummate win. Moreno slotted into second and held off Battistini for the first five of the fifteen lap race but conceded the place when he ran wide into turn 3.

SECOND ROUND - A TIGHT ONE

Henri Karjalainen won the second AF3 Pacific race of the Sentul weekend from Moreno Soeprapto and Dillon Battistini. Unlike race one it was not a lights to flag win with Battistini and Soeprapto jumping the Finn at the start. Paul Ip was the Promotions Class victor.

Karjalainen suffered too much wheel spin at the start allowing Battistini into the lead. He made a move to pass at turn three and ran wide allowing Moreno past. This is how the order remained until mid-distance when Karjalainen forced his way up the inside of Battistini at the final turn. They rubbed wheels and Battistini ran wide allowing Moreno to draft past on the run to turn one. That’s how they finished with Robin Tato in fourth and Promotions Class winner, Paul Ip, in fifth just finishing in front of Don Tacos after an entertaining race long dice.

THIRD ROUND - THE HAT TRICK

Henri Karjalainen made it a clean sweep in the Sentul Asian F3 Pacific event. Moreno Soeprapto was second and Dillon Battistini third. Guest driver, John O’Hara put the cat amongst the pigeons by briefly taking the lead when Karjalainen ran wide in the final turn on lap four. Paul Ip again won the Promotions Class

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Karjalainen made a reasonable start and led at the start whilst Battistini had his hands full of O’Hara and a slow starting Soeprapto. O’Hara forced his way Battistini and closed in on Karjalainen who ran wide on the exit of the final turn. This allowed O’Hara into the lead although the Finn re-took the lead at the following corner. He quickly opened up a gap and Battistini was soon in second place when O’Hara pitted with electrical gremlins. The team were able to repair the car and he re-joined but was later excluded for entering the pit garage during the race. “The race was lost so we decided to work on the car to ensure we had solved the problem for the next event” said O’Hara.

Soeprapto fought his way past Battistini in a brave move up the inside into turn one on lap four, the Indonesian almost on the grass in the braking area. Once by that’s how the top three finished with Robin Tato again fourth and Paul Ip winning the Promotions after another entertaining race with Don Tacos.

Karjalainen has reduced Battistini’s series lead to a mere three points with Soeprapto third in the points a further 32 points behind the second placed driver.

asianf3.net

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